BiOpTo

BiOpTo: Tomographic phase microscope for biomedical applications

Label-free 3D quantitative phase imaging techniques are becoming increasingly important and popular in biological and medical applications. The main objective (MO) of the proposal is to develop, test and prepare for commercialization (TRL7) novel groundbreaking tool for quantitative 3D analysis of phase biological microobjects, namely the tomographic phase microscope (TPM).

Realization of the MO requires:

a) addressing the following major research breakthrough ideas:

• novel schemes of dynamic modulation of illumination beam and multiple focusing plane methods for 3D reconstruction of refractive index distribution with improved accuracy and extended measurement depth;
• novel tomographic solutions:
• based on sequential reconstruction stitching in order to increase measurement volume and digitally overcome limitations imposed by the space-bandwidth product
• new algorithms for analysis of changes in volumetric (tomographic) data due to influence of external conditions (mechanical, chemical, environmental), development of enhanced volume digital image correlation algorithms to support analysis of variable in time biological microstructures
• development of measurement and data interpretation methodologies required to create customized software packages providing data that support directly advanced therapy medicinal products for the treatment of osteoarthritis, cancer and cardiac diseases

b) addressing the following business issues on the way to prepare the TMP for commercialization:

• provide the optomechanical and software solutions and their implementations which qualify the TPM for TRL7;
• provide the solutions which would realistically advance the product rout-to-the market (technically and economically);
• overcome the main roadblocks for commercialization of TPM through:
• promoting actively and deepen the understanding of the 3D phase measurements through tomography in the community of biologists and physicians,
• evidencing the link between tomographic measurement results and the outputs from alternative microscopic imaging methods.

The project is realised within TEAM-TECH program

The aim of the TEAM-TECH programme is to improve human potential in the R&D sector in team projects pursued by scientists (regardless of nationality) having outstanding experience in implementing the results of scientific research in economic practice, or in providing research services or operating research equipment for corporate customers.

Eligible applicants are those researchers (regardless of nationality) who have at least a PhD degree as well as research or commercialisation experience confirmed by international achievements, who intend to include young researchers – students, PhD students or young doctors (postdocs) – in their team.

Projects lasting up to 36 months will be financed under the programme. The project budget is recommended not to exceed PLN 3,500,000.

Projects under the programme can be implemented in one of three options:

• by research units to the extent to which they do not conduct economic activity (without granting state aid),
• by enterprises (pursuant to the principles of granting state aid for R&D activity),
• by scientific-industrial consortia consisting of one research unit and one enterprise (for the research unit: without state aid, to the extent, to which it does not conduct economic activity; for the enterprise, pursuant to the principles of granting state aid for R&D activities).

In the case of research units, the participation of at least one business partner is mandatory in the TEAM-TECH programme.

Projects to be carried out under the TEAM-TECH programme should involve R&D work on a new product or production process (technological or manufacturing) of significant importance for the economy. The Team Tech project shall be based on an identified product, technology or market of recipients of the given product or technology. In subsequent editions of the programme, candidates may also submit applications whose aim is to set up teams to work in research services using available equipment, in the form of a core facility.

Support under the programme should enable researcher at the start of their scientific careers, namely students, PhD students and young doctors (postdocs), to gain experience in conducting R&D work in a project serving to develop a technology, process or innovative product.

The recipients of the results will include companies operating in Poland.

The project is realised by Foundation of Polish Science, co-financed with the support of the European Union, Regional Development Fund.

For more informations visit: https://www.fnp.org.pl/en/oferta/team-tech/.