# Core2: Biophysics and Metabolic Imaging Core

> **NIH NIH U54** · CORNELL UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $131,305

## Abstract

Project Summary - Biophysics and Metabolic Imaging Core 
The Biophysics and Metabolic Imaging Core will provide the instrumentation, facilities and expertise 
required to meet the optical microscopy and imaging analysis needs of the three Projects detailed in this 
application, as well as those of any PSOC pilot or trans-network projects that develop as a result of this Center 
program. In particular, the Core will provide the imaging infrastructure and expertise required for imaging of 
the cellular metabolic state, tissue structural features, and the general visualization of the biological samples 
tested in this Center. The Biophysics and Metabolic Imaging Core is made up of four overall aims: Aim 1: 
We will provide instrumentation and analysis support for high resolution quantitative optical imaging-based 
measurements of cellular metabolic state using new genetically encoded metabolite-sensing indicators and 
label-free two-photon excited NADH/FAD ratio imaging. Aim 2: We will develop a set of novel hardware 
platforms that will introduce further improved methods for carrying out FRET-based metabolic sensor imaging 
and combined lifetime/polarization anisotropy NADH imaging. We will also enable high throughput, high 
content, and long time-course imaging of metabolism and cellular features on the single cell level in culture 
systems and tissue explants such as patient-derived xenographs (PDXs). Aim 3: We will construct and utilize 
a new type of super-resolution interference-based microscope with 10 nm axial resolution that is especially 
designed to probe the cell membrane/ glycocalyx – substrate interactions that play a critical role in how cancer 
cells interact with their environment. Aim 4: We will provide the computational expertise and computer 
hardware for the image processing and analysis required to evaluate the image data acquired in Aims 1-3. The 
Biophysics and Metabolic Imaging Core is co-directed by two recognized experts in biological imaging and 
provides cutting-edge instrumentation and expertise that will be critical to the success the overall project. The 
Biophysics and Metabolic Imaging Core will closely interact with the three Projects and with the Tissue 
Microfabrication Core on applications of our existing technologies and the development of new technologies for 
task-specific metabolic and functional imaging, image-based biophysical modeling, and analytical image 
analysis.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10020778
- **Project number:** 5U54CA210184-05
- **Recipient organization:** CORNELL UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** WARREN R ZIPFEL
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $131,305
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10020778

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10020778, Core2: Biophysics and Metabolic Imaging Core (5U54CA210184-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10020778. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*