# Realizing BRAVE-EM for Nanoscale Multicolor Imaging in Biology: Biological Real-space Absorption Visualization by photoEmission Electron Microscopy

> **NIH NIH R35** · UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO · 2024 · $291,224

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Imaging cells and tissue labeled with fluorescent molecules and proteins is critical in
biological research, enabling visualization of the locations of specific proteins, receptors,
or genotypes within cells and tissue. However, our current imaging modalities are not
capable of simultaneous functional imaging of molecules/proteins and structural imaging
of cellular and subcellular features in whole tissues, limiting both our fundamental
biomedical understanding of diseases and strategies for treatment. Leveraging recent
advances in the development of photoemission electron microscopy for high-resolution
imaging of biological tissue for volume electron microscopy, the proposed research
program seeks to develop BRAVE-EM, Biological Real-space Absorption Visualization by
photoemission - Electron Microscopy, to combine the wavelength specificity of optical
light microscopy with the spatial resolution and volume imaging of electron microscopy.
Developing BRAVE-EM will enable imaging of fluorescent molecule and protein labels in
biological tissues with spatial resolution <20 nm, while remaining compatible with recent
advances in the volume electron microscopy infrastructure. Using volume electron
microscopy and BRAVE-EM, we will answer questions in cancer biology, such as how
heterogeneity in cancer-associated fibroblasts and variations in protein expression in the
tumor stroma of pancreatic tissue samples influences cancer metabolism and disease
progression.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10937282
- **Project number:** 1R35GM154855-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Sarah Bailey King
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $291,224
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-15 → 2029-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10937282

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10937282, Realizing BRAVE-EM for Nanoscale Multicolor Imaging in Biology: Biological Real-space Absorption Visualization by photoEmission Electron Microscopy (1R35GM154855-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-12 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10937282. Licensed CC0.

---

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