Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Ryerson University
$140,385.00
Microscopy system for microfluidics with integrated optical tweezers and high speed imaging
FY 2014-15
Summary
We are requesting a high speed, optical tweezer-enabled microscopy system, for microfluidics experiments. This system consists of an optical tweezer integrated to an inverted microscope, and a high speed camera mounted to the side port of the microscope. We have already secured the high speed camera using funding from Ryerson University. In this NSERC Research Tools and Instruments grant competition, we are seeking funding to obtain the inverted microscope and the integrated optical tweezer, to complete the entire system.The equipment we request is essential in three NSERC Discovery sponsored research programs that currently support the work of 10 highly qualified personnel (HQP): 4 PhD, 2 MASc, and 4 undergraduate students. We anticipate participation from even more HQP after the equipment is acquired. These research programs all involve the application of engineering and physics to biomedical problems. Namely, Program 1 is developing a microfluidic technique to coat single live cells, Program 2 uses microfluidics to probe spatially, temporally, and geometrically dependent signaling in cell monolayers, and Program 3 combines ultrasound and microfluidics to characterize single red blood cells. These three programs each involve highly interdisciplinary collaborations.Fittingly, we come from the diverse fields of Mechanical Engineering (S Tsai), Biomedical Physics (M Kolios), Chemical Engineering (DK Hwang), Biochemistry (A Kapus), and Surgery and Physiology (collaborator W Kuebler). We are all founding members of the newly established Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Science Technology (iBEST), at Ryerson University and St. Michael's Hospital. Successful acquisition of the proposed microscopy setup will jump-start our collaborations, train HQP in the highly sought-after areas of biomedical engineering and biotechnology, and lead to benefits for Canadians via the development of new health treatment methods and formation of biomedical startup companies.
Program
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
472478-2015
Name nom
Tsai, Scott
Department département
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Organization id
43
Institution établissement
Ryerson University
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2014
Competition year année de concours
2015
Award amount
140385
Program id
EQPEQ
Program name en
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Program name fr
Outils et instruments de recherche - catégorie 1 (<150 000$)
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
1512
Committee name en
Mechanical Engineering
Committee name fr
Génie mécanique
Area of application code
1201
Area of application group en
Advancement of knowledge
Area of application group fr
Avancement des connaissances
Area of application en
Life sciences (including biotechnology)
Area of application fr
Sciences de la vie (y compris biotechnologie)
Research subject code
2100
Research subject group en
Mechanical engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie mécanique
Research subject en
Mechanical engineering
Research subject fr
Génie mécanique
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Microscopy system for microfluidics with integrated optical tweezers and high speed imaging
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
We are requesting a high speed, optical tweezer-enabled microscopy system, for microfluidics experiments. This system consists of an optical tweezer integrated to an inverted microscope, and a high speed camera mounted to the side port of the microscope. We have already secured the high speed camera using funding from Ryerson University. In this NSERC Research Tools and Instruments grant competition, we are seeking funding to obtain the inverted microscope and the integrated optical tweezer, to complete the entire system.The equipment we request is essential in three NSERC Discovery sponsored research programs that currently support the work of 10 highly qualified personnel (HQP): 4 PhD, 2 MASc, and 4 undergraduate students. We anticipate participation from even more HQP after the equipment is acquired. These research programs all involve the application of engineering and physics to biomedical problems. Namely, Program 1 is developing a microfluidic technique to coat single live cells, Program 2 uses microfluidics to probe spatially, temporally, and geometrically dependent signaling in cell monolayers, and Program 3 combines ultrasound and microfluidics to characterize single red blood cells. These three programs each involve highly interdisciplinary collaborations.Fittingly, we come from the diverse fields of Mechanical Engineering (S Tsai), Biomedical Physics (M Kolios), Chemical Engineering (DK Hwang), Biochemistry (A Kapus), and Surgery and Physiology (collaborator W Kuebler). We are all founding members of the newly established Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Science Technology (iBEST), at Ryerson University and St. Michael's Hospital. Successful acquisition of the proposed microscopy setup will jump-start our collaborations, train HQP in the highly sought-after areas of biomedical engineering and biotechnology, and lead to benefits for Canadians via the development of new health treatment methods and formation of biomedical startup companies.
