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Advanced Bioderived and Biocompatible Lasers

Obiettivo

Naturally occurring optical phenomena attract great attention and transform our ability to study biological processes, with “the discovery and development of the green fluorescent protein (GFP)” (Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2008) being a particularly successful example. Although found only in very few species in nature, most organisms can be genetically programmed to produce the brightly fluorescent GFP molecules. Combined with modern fluorescence detection schemes, this has led to entirely new ways of monitoring biological processes. The applicant now demonstrated a biological laser – a completely novel, living source of coherent light based on a single biological cell bioengineered to produce GFP. Such a laser is intrinsically biocompatible, thus offering unique properties not shared by any existing laser. However, the physical processes involved in lasing from GFP remain poorly understood and so far biological lasers rely on bulky, impractical external resonators for optical feedback. Within this project, the applicant and his team will develop for the first time an understanding of stimulated emission in GFP and related proteins and create an unprecedented stand-alone single-cell biolaser based on intracellular optical feedback. These lasers will be deployed as microscopic and biocompatible imaging probes, thus opening in vivo microscopy to dense wavelength-multiplexing and enabling unmatched sensing of biomolecules and mechanical pressure. The evolutionarily evolved nano-structure of GFP will also enable novel ways of studying strong light-matter coupling and will bio-inspire advances of synthetic emitters. The proposed project is inter-disciplinary by its very nature, bridging photonics, genetic engineering and material science. The applicant’s previous pioneering work and synergies with work on other lasers developed at the applicant’s host institution provide an exclusive competitive edge. ERC support would transform this into a truly novel field of research.

Campo scientifico

Programma(i)

Argomento(i)

Invito a presentare proposte

ERC-2014-STG

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Meccanismo di finanziamento

ERC-STG - Starting Grant

Coordinatore

THE UNIVERSITY COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS
Contribution nette de l'UE
€ 1 436 062,50
Indirizzo
North street 66 college gate
KY16 9AJ St andrews
GB

Mostra sulla mappa
Regione
Scotland Eastern Scotland Clackmannanshire and Fife
Tipo di attività
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Collegamenti
Altri finanziamenti
€ 0,00

Beneficiari (2)

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Ultimo aggiornamento: 27 Luglio 2022
Numero di registrazione: 196798

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European Union, 2023