Modern biomedical optical instrumentation and laser assisted biotechnology focus interest on the potential offered by laser light in conjunction with the associated technologies of optical fibres, automation, imaging methods, and computing. This text presents an advanced look at the latest results in the fields of photobiology and photomedicine. The main topics considered are: basic physics of light-biomatter interactions and tissue optics; light induced effects in biological systems; optical diagnostic techniques and instrumentation; optical tomography; optical sensors; and laser-assisted biotechnology.