Biophotonics

The Biophotonics program, a part of the Engineering Biology and Health cluster, is a grant primarily focused on research and exploration in photonics principles, engineering, and technology related to medical, biology, and biotech challenges. The aim is to advance current technologies for medical diagnostics and therapies through innovative photonics research.

Research topics in this program range from Imaging in the second near-infrared window (NIR-II: 1,000-1,700 nm) which improves deep tissue imaging, innovative methods for marking and detecting specific pathological cells, and studies of neurons' photon activation at the interface of cells attached with nanomaterials.

The program also promotes the development of micro and nanophotonics like nanoparticle fluorescent quantum-dots, sensitive, high-throughput characterization of cells' macromolecular properties. It also covers research in optogenetics, including manipulation of neural activity using light-activated channels and enzymes, and physiological real-time studies of organs like the brain and heart.

Applicants with innovative proposals outside these areas can contact the program's director for advice before submission. Proposals should highlight the novelty and transformative nature, importance to engineering science, and the societal and/or industrial impact of the proposed research. They generally last for up to three years and usually support one graduate student (or equivalent) and one month of the main investigator's (PI) time per year.

Unusually large budget proposals should be discussed first with the program director. Information about budget amounts for past awards can be found in the “What Has Been Funded” link on the program's page.

The program also encourages Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) program proposals with a submission deadline in July. Proposals for Conferences, Workshops, and Supplements, as well as Rapid Response Research (RAPID) and Early-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) are also accepted on the correct basis.

Before submitting any of these types, a discussion with the program director is mandatory. The program also supports the Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) proposals that link fundamental research with translational results.

All the proposals should comply with the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) else they might be returned without review.