Grant: Idea to Innovation
École Polytechnique de Montréal
$125,000.00
Low-cost and turn-key super-resolution microscopy
FY 2024-25
Summary
Super-resolution microscopy has revolutionized bioimaging; however, for most biologists, the workhorse microscopy system in the lab is still a standard confocal microscope. In theory, the working principles of the confocal microscope make it upgradeable to a super-resolution system; however, the stringent alignment requirements have made this idea intractable. Here, we present a solution that upgrades existing confocal systems to super-resolution instruments. Our invention is an illumination device free of moving parts that plug directly into the light path of a confocal microscope. With a market predicted to reach USD 6.6 billion in 2030 and a product price point substantially below competing approaches, this project presents an opportunity to a new instrument to a rapidly growing market and advance the microscopy industry in Canada.
Program
Idea to Innovation
Recipient
Location
Quebec, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
590717-2024
Name nom
Weiss, Lucien LEW
Department département
Génie physique
Organization id
64
Institution établissement
École Polytechnique de Montréal
Province en
Québec
Province fr
Québec
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2024
Competition year année de concours
2024
Award amount
125000
Program id
I2IPJ
Program name en
Idea to Innovation
Program name fr
De l'idée à l'innovation
Group en
RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS
Group fr
PARTENARIATS DE RECHERCHE
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
1102
Area of application group en
Health, education and social services
Area of application group fr
Santé publique, éducation et services sociaux
Area of application en
Biomedical engineering
Area of application fr
Génie biomédical
Research subject code
3113
Research subject group en
Physics
Research subject group fr
Physique
Research subject en
Biophysics
Research subject fr
Biophysique
Field of research list names en
Not available
Field of research list names fr
Non disponible
Socioeconomic objective list names en
Not available
Socioeconomic objective list names fr
Non disponible
Application title
Low-cost and turn-key super-resolution microscopy
Keywords
bioimaging; biomedical optics; biophotonics; nanoscopy; photonic lanterns; photonics; stimulated emission depletion (sted); superresolution microscopy
Application summary
Super-resolution microscopy has revolutionized bioimaging; however, for most biologists, the workhorse microscopy system in the lab is still a standard confocal microscope. In theory, the working principles of the confocal microscope make it upgradeable to a super-resolution system; however, the stringent alignment requirements have made this idea intractable. Here, we present a solution that upgrades existing confocal systems to super-resolution instruments. Our invention is an illumination device free of moving parts that plug directly into the light path of a confocal microscope. With a market predicted to reach USD 6.6 billion in 2030 and a product price point substantially below competing approaches, this project presents an opportunity to a new instrument to a rapidly growing market and advance the microscopy industry in Canada.
