Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

The equipment to be acquired will enable interdisciplinary research studies in our laboratory. It will allow us to make sensitive measurements of biomedical specimens and rapidly identify harmful bacteria. Specifically, we will acquire an optical spectrometer to analyze the light emitted by sparks that are created with a high-power pulsed laser. When the powerful pulse of laser light is focused to a very tight spot on some target material, the incredible energy of the laser pulse rips the material apart atom by atom, creating what looks like a small spark-plug spark. These sparks are like miniature lightning bolts and are very hot and energetic. The light emitted by these sparks contains information about which atoms and molecules made up the target material. This process is easy to control and the spark can be created on almost any material. This makes it a very powerful and attractive tool for rapidly and easily determining the composition of an unknown target. By firing the laser at a specimen which contains bacteria and analyzing the light given off, we can uniquely identify the bacteria. This ability to detect and identify bacterial pathogens in real-time is important in many facets of human health, including clinical medicine and in hospitals, in the law-enforcement and first-responder communities, in food and beverage contamination monitoring, and in drinking/swimming water cleanliness and safety. All Canadians would benefit from the implementation of this rapid technology to protect them from exposure to harmful bacteria or for rapid diagnosis if they were infected. Along with identifying harmful bacterial pathogens in medical situations, we also are now attempting to analyze biomedical specimens (like blood or urine) and also produce from greenhouses in a very important agricultural application. By improving crop yields even slightly, Canadians would greatly benefit in the form of lower food prices. Lastly, by training highly-qualified personnel in the use of this type of equipment in Windsor, we are preparing Canadian scientists and researchers to play a lead role in the development of this exciting new scientific technique and to be able to design, build, and utilize the next generation of high-technology apparatus.