# Microflow time-resolved cytometry for FRET and fluorescent protein development > **NIH NIH R01** · NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY LAS CRUCES · 2021 · $200,000 ## Abstract Summary This application requests supplemental support for the purchase of a fluorescence lifetime imaging microscope (FLIM). A new microscope of this type will significantly advance the aims of the project: R01GM129859 Microflow time-resolved Flow Cytometry for FRET and Fluorescence Protein Development. FLIM systems have unique abilities to image cells whereby the image is a rendering of the fluorescence lifetimes measured across cells at a high resolution. The fluorescence lifetime is the average time a fluorophore spends in the excited state; it carries a significant amount of information about the fluorophore such as the microenvironment, near-neighbor proximity, and movement of intracellular molecules. This will support the parent R01 project because the objective for this work is to design and adapt fluorescence lifetime flow cytometry onto a microchip platform for cell screening and eventual sorting. The aims will develop a novel microflow cytometer that will, when completely vetted, incorporate many unique features such as acoustic focusing of cells through microfluidic channels, multi-frequency measurements that give rise to multiple- fluorescence lifetime values per cell, and electro-optical design for eventual cell sorting based on fluorescence lifetime measurements. Concurrently with the design and construction of the microflow cytometer two major applications of this tool are planned/underway. These are 1) the quantification of Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) events inside of mammalian cells, and 2) the enrichment of near-infrared fluorescent proteins based on photo-kinetic data. Therefore a microscope (FLIM) with the unique ability to measure fluorescence decay kinetics is essential for 4 reasons: 1) it will enable us to independently cross-validate our cytometry measurements thereby providing resolution and precision that are orders of magnitude greater for reliable optimization; 2) it will significantly enhance the collaborative applications that we are exploring with our novel cytometer and current aims; 3) it will greatly expand the applicability of our cytometer for other fields thus broadening the biomedical impact while supporting future grant applications; and 4) it will become a tool for training and development of students and collaborating faculty at New Mexico State University, a Hispanic Serving Institution. ## Key facts - **NIH application ID:** 10388738 - **Project number:** 3R01GM129859-04S1 - **Recipient organization:** NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY LAS CRUCES - **Principal Investigator:** Jessica Perea Houston - **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.) - **Funding institute:** NIH - **Fiscal year:** 2021 - **Award amount:** $200,000 - **Award type:** 3 - **Project period:** 2018-09-01 → 2023-07-31 ## Primary source NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10388738 ## Citation > US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10388738, Microflow time-resolved cytometry for FRET and fluorescent protein development (3R01GM129859-04S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-08 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10388738. Licensed CC0. --- *[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*