Center for Biophotonic Sensors & Systems
Boston University and the University of California at Davis have established a national resource for Biophotonic Sensors and Systems where photonics provides the enabling technologies for advances in methods to detect, sense, identify and understand biological properties, conditions or changes at the molecular and cellular/sub-cellular level. Now as a Phase II center, the research is expected to lead to significant commercial benefits in areas such as:
- Disease diagnosis
- Drug efficacy testing
- Patient drug effectiveness monitoring
- Food & water safety
Both universities have mature photonics research centers and a track record of achievement in managing transitional research. Boston University is renowned for rapid prototyping of transitional research to fill urgent gaps identified by the Department of Defense and UC Davis has similar achievements in technology transfer for clinical health care applications.
The active participation of industry is key to successful technology transition. This process begins early with the definition of the applications problem and translation to research requirements. These interactions are iterative engagements that lead to idea generation and potentially multiple paths for research. Ultimately, an agreed path for applied research is undertaken with successful completion leading to a technology transition and commercialization of a full systems solution. The I/UCRC intends to provide an environment where industry and university researchers can engage in an exchange of ideas, evaluations and results at all stages of the process. The process will be employed on projects with broad industry consensus as well as on directed research projects with individual industry members.