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Shining a Light on the Future: A Conversation with James Carroll, Founder and CEO THOR PhotoMedicine

Shining a Light on the Future: A Conversation with James Carroll



This week, as part of my podcast A Week at the Clinic, (a new series from An Englishman Downunder) I had the privilege of sitting down with James Carroll, founder of THOR Photomedicine and one of the world’s leading advocates for photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy. What began as a simple interview,  evolved into a rich and spontaneous exchange that I believe many in our field—clinicians, researchers, and curious patients alike—will find illuminating.

James shared his remarkable journey, from stumbling upon laser therapy in 1986 to building THOR into a globally respected name in PBM. Our conversation explored the evolution of laser and LED technology, the development of treatment protocols, and the ongoing challenge of navigating regulatory pathways that often lag behind scientific innovation.

A key theme that emerged was the disparity between academic interest in PBM and its uptake in clinical settings. While universities continue to publish promising data, mainstream medical practice remains hesitant. We touched on reasons for this lag, including the slow process of regulatory approval and the uphill battle for treatments to be included in care guidelines and reimbursement frameworks.

James spoke candidly about the bureaucratic obstacles facing off-label applications, and the risks posed by inferior devices flooding the consumer market. He also highlighted significant international breakthroughs—such as Lumithera’s FDA approval for PBM in the treatment of  macular degeneration disease—and spoke about his upcoming research, including a PhD focused on improving PBM dose accuracy.

On a practical note, we discussed patient success stories, particularly in dental and musculoskeletal applications, and the promising expansion of THOR’s Protocol Library to better support front-line practitioners like myself.

The full episode will be released this Sunday. I hope it offers insight into not only where photobiomodulation has come from, but where it is so clearly heading.

Until then,

Kevin 


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