Four-dimensional multi-modality microimaging-microdevice system for high throughput drug screening in vivo

NIH RePORTER · NIH · K25 · $174,263 · view on reporter.nih.gov ↗

Abstract

Project Summary Guigen Liu, Ph.D., is a mechanical and optical engineer whose overarching career goal is to develop and translate optical fiber based biomedical optical imaging and sensing technologies. The research, entitled “Four- dimensional multi-modality microimaging-microdevice system for high throughput drug screening in vivo”, combines the advanced optical microimaging system with an emerging microdevice, which has the huge potential impact on drug development, individualized health care, and fundamental biomedical research. Candidate: Dr. Liu is an Instructor at the Radiology Department of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School. During his previous postdoctoral training, he and colleagues pioneered a silicon-tipped fiber- optic sensing platform featuring high speed and high resolution, which earned the 2015 Alan Berman Research Publication Award from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. While Dr. Liu has shown a successful track of record in engineering, his training in biomedical research is limited. Through the career development plans: 1) Gain more experience in two-photon fluorescence and Raman microimaging; 2) Learn to design and implement the microimaging-microdevice system; 3) Establish in vivo drug delivery and tissue response testing skills; and 4) Enhance leadership and career development skills, Dr. Liu will launch his independent career in the new field. Mentors/Environment: Dr. Liu has assembled a strong team of mentors to guide him through the proposed training and research activities. The proposed career development plan includes the rich resources available through Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, the Tearney Laboratory at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine, and the Laser Biomedical Research Center at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Research: The research seeks to build an in situ multi-modality optical histological laboratory for the biomedical microdevice, through four specific research aims: 1) To implement quantitative 4D multi-color two-photon fluorescence microimaging; 2) To test drug efficacy in vivo using the 4D two-photon fluorescence MI-MD system; 3) To develop label-free MI-MD system using Raman microscopy; and 4) To investigate microimaging through long and flexible GRIN probes. Completion of these aims will push the microdevice a big step toward potential clinical adoptions in the future. Summary: Innovation of the proposed research is the integration of 3D microimaging and microdevice for 4D testing of drug efficacy and tissue response in vivo, which will meet the pressing needs of high throughput drug screening. The candidate has identified a group of experts who provide complementary training and mentoring on all the aspects for him to complete the proposed research and develop an independent research career.

Key facts

NIH application ID
10915495
Project number
5K25EB032900-03
Recipient
BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
Principal Investigator
Guigen Liu
Activity code
K25
Funding institute
NIH
Fiscal year
2024
Award amount
$174,263
Award type
5
Project period
2022-09-30 → 2026-06-30