As a key enabling technology, photonics will play a central role in transforming sectors such as healthcare and biomedical research. HILIGHT focuses on the development and demonstration of an innovative two-photon excitation fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (2ph-FLIM) platform that enables unprecedented image acquisition rates. The project aims to deliver versatile, compact, and cost-effective laser and detection technologies capable of integration into the existing confocal microscopy system developped by Vivascope.
At the core of the project is the development of a laser, developped by III-V Lab and CSEM, capable of generating customizable pulse bursts at high repetition rates (3–6 GHz). This laser source will support 2ph-FLIM imaging at megapixel-per-second rates and is designed for acrydin fluorescent dye. Its performance in terms of pulse energy and peak power is comparable to the state of the art, but with significant improvements in size, energy efficiency, and manufacturing cost. Combined with a custom-designed digital Silicon Photomultiplier (dSiPM) implemented in CMOS technology, this laser will enable high-speed, high-resolution imaging while overcoming existing limitations in data acquisition and processing bandwidth. The detector, developed by FBK, employs a time-gated photon counting strategy that significantly reduces computational complexity, enabling high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) measurements and efficient lifetime reconstruction.
HILIGHT’s technologies will be validated in two distinct use cases by Vivascope and Brunel University. The first focuses on digital histopathology, where the project seeks to replace traditional staining techniques with near-instantaneous optical biopsy capabilities. By integrating the HILIGHT system into a VivaScope platform, the project will enable rapid intraoperative diagnostics and enhanced pathology workflows. The second use case explores applications in biomedical research, particularly in the areas of single-cell biochemical phenotyping and optogenetics using three-dimensional culture systems. The project will demonstrate how HILIGHT’s ultrafast laser source can be used for confined photoactivation within tissue and how its detection system can support FLIM-based biochemical sensing at photon count rates far exceeding those of current technologies.
Through these innovations, the HILIGHT project aims to overcome the technical and economic barriers that have limited the broader adoption of two-photon microscopy. It will enable a new generation of medical and research imaging tools that are faster, more accurate, and more accessible. By targeting both clinical and research applications, HILIGHT not only addresses current limitations in biomedical imaging but also opens up new market opportunities across academic, clinical, and industrial settings.
