Cluster focus

The Biophotonics Cluster brings together life scientists, engineers and health scientists to advance the application and development of multi-mode, multi-photon imaging of complex biological systems, development and application of novel spectroscopic and photochemical probes, and the fabrication and manipulation of surfaces for drug screening and bio-assays. The cluster is developing and testing new microscopic and florescent probes and imaging tools to delve into the inner workings of cells and biological systems, allowing scientists to visualize how living systems function under the highest degree of magnification possible while causing the least cell damage. Cluster research is also using microscopes with extremely high resolution to view non-living cells at a level of detail not previously available. Combining the development of florescent and high-resolution microscopic probes with biological research knowledge, biophotonic scholars can more clearly understand the structure and physiology of microscopic living cells. This research offers tremendous promise for the medical community to understand the physiology of human disease cells and find new ways to treat these cells. For example, light could be used to attack tumors and alter other disease cells in a way that could potentially create fewer side effects and risks then current treatment methods.

Cluster accomplishments

  • The probes the researchers are developing help better visualize physiology of cells, and make this extremely expensive technology more readily available to other researchers.
  • Cluster faculty have team taught and developed such new graduate level courses as the Principles of Biophotonics and the Microscopy of Life to help train researchers and scholars. Additionally, the cluster faculty regularly guest lecture in each other’s courses. Students who are developing and/or applying photonic technologies to their research projects benefit from courses that cover the basic principles of optics, optical spectroscopy and microscopy, and the application of these techniques to address fundamental questions in the life and health sciences.
  • Cluster faculty collaborate to train PhD students in multiple areas of expertise and to offer students the experience of working in their labs.
  • The cluster has helped to organize several research forums, workshops and symposia, including a workshop on Emerging Techniques in Screening and Imaging Sciences, The First Bi-annual International Symposium on Biophotonics (attended by several hundred people from around the world), a Biophotonics Seminar Series and an informal Biophotonics Discussion Group.
  • Cluster faculty are also involved with the Physiology Seminar Series that meets several times a month and features speakers from around the world.
  • One of the cluster faculty recently co-edited a well-reviewed, two-volume work, "Review of Biophotonics: A 2-Volume Issue in Methods in Enzymology," which includes a chapter written by one of the other cluster members.
  • Cluster Faculty support and collaborate with the Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation.
  • The Cluster is involved in microscopy outreach efforts including the UW Microscopy Web Portal.

Cluster structure

 

While two of the cluster faculty are developing probes, the third focuses on testing the fluorescent probes being developed. Two of the faculty team teach a course and serve on each other’s student committees, and all three have been guest lecturers in each other’s courses. The cluster hopes to form an affiliated group of faculty, scientists and students across campus that shares similar research and teaching interests in Biophotonics to create closer ties, collaborations and interdisciplinary research, teaching and outreach. The connections between these researchers is crucial for moving toward the future, as major federal science grants now favor projects involving interdisciplinary research and multiple project investigators.

 

Cluster coordinator, faculty and lead dean

Cluster Coordinators

John G. White, Professor and Chair of Molecular Biology Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation

Cluster Faculty

Lead Dean