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Biosensors and Advanced Imaging

We carry out research and engagement activities on new and emerging technologies in biosensing and bioimaging, including development of novel instrumentation, probes and quantitative data analysis tools.

We seek to foster interactions and stimulate new cross-disciplinary research into innovative and potentially disruptive technological capabilities in biosensing and advanced imaging that will drive world-leading discoveries in the health and life sciences.

As a network our mission is:

  • to facilitate collaboration between researchers across the University through sharing of equipment and expertise
  • to create a platform that will enable the dissemination of our research to academics, industry and stakeholders
  • to promote Cardiff University expertise in biosensing and bioimaging around the world.

Aims

Our specific scientific aims are:

  • To develop novel sensing modalities that employ advances in material science and nanotechnology to   achieve unprecedented functionalities. To develop novel imaging and analytical capabilities which could enable early detection and predictive diagnosis of diseases.
  • To develop novel contrast reagents and chemical probes, improving   delivery technologies, to enhance imaging and sensing capabilities.

We conduct research on:

  • Next-generation optical microscopy instrumentation development.
  • Diagnostic devices with miniaturised light sources and detectors.
  • Chemically sensitive label-free bioimaging of living cells and tissues.
  • Software development for quantitative image analysis.
  • Coherent optical “nanoscopy” of single molecules/particles.
  • Development of new biochemical probes, including engineering of fluorescent proteins.
  • Nanoparticles and functionalised nanostructures for drug delivery.
  • Delivery of small molecule drugs and biopharmaceuticals.
  • Characterizing endocytic pathways for drug delivery research.
  • Production and purification of diamond nanoparticles with single photon centres.

Examples of projects with the BioSensing and Imaging Network include:

  • EU Marie-Curie ETN Multi-partner Award “Multiphoton Microscopy and Ultrafast Spectroscopy: Imaging meets Quantum (MUSIQ)” (Paola Borri, Wolfgang Langbein,Pete Watson)
  • BBSRC Research Grant Award BB/R021899/1 “A label-free tool to unravel the dynamics of lipid bilayers containing single membrane proteins: iGOR microscopy” (Paola Borri, Wolfgang Langbein, Mark Young)
  • BBSRC Research Grant Award BB/P007511/1“Lipid droplets in oocytes: shedding new light on why fats are good or bad for development” (Karl Swann, Paola Borri, Wolfgang Langbein, Rosalind   John)
  • SerCymru II Rising Star Fellowship “Integrated compound semiconductor lab-on-chip   optical biosensor enabling infectious disease diagnostics at the point-of-care” (Francesco Masia)
  • CRUK/EPSRC project C368/A22099 NS/A000040/1 “Using CARS microscopy to realise the   potential of 3D culture for personalised medicine and drug delivery” (Trevor Dale, Paola Borri, Wolfgang Langbein)
  • EPSRC Research Grant Award EP/R009147/1 “Two-photon Lithography for Isotropic 3D Nanostructure Fabrication” (Sam Ladak, Wolfgang   Langbein, Paola Borri)
  • EPSRC DTP PhD Studentship “Integrated compound semiconductor lab-on-chip optical biosensor”   (Francesco Masia, Wolfgang Langbein, Paola Borri)
  • BBSRC Research Grant award BB/P009980/1 “Traceless, non-invasive and spatiotemporal control of protein activity in cells.” (Louis   Luk, Yuhsuan Tsai, Arwyn T. Jones and Ruedi  Allemann)
  • ERDF, Welsh Government Ireland-Wales INTERREG Operation. Celtic Advanced Life Science Innovation Network. CU Investigators Arwyn T Jones, Mark Gumbleton, James Birchall, Jenna Bowen, Peter. Watson.

Lead researcher

Professor Paola Borri

Professor Paola Borri

Professor, Coordinator of the European Marie Curie ETN consortium MUSIQ

Email
borrip@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2087 9356

Academic staff

Professor Wolfgang Langbein

Professor Wolfgang Langbein

Head of Condensed Matter and Photonics Group

Email
langbeinww@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2087 0172
Dr Peter Watson

Dr Peter Watson

Director for Postgraduate Education, Reader, Academic lead of imaging facilities, Postgraduate Research Teaching Co-ordinator

Email
watsonpd@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2087 9042
Dr Francesco Masia

Dr Francesco Masia

COFUND Fellow

Email
masiaf@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2087 9037
Professor Trevor Dale

Professor Trevor Dale

Deputy Head of Molecular Biosciences Division

Email
daletc@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2087 4652
Professor D. Dafydd Jones

Professor D. Dafydd Jones

Professor

Email
jonesdd@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2087 4290
Dr Mark Young

Dr Mark Young

Reader

Email
youngmt@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2087 9394
Professor Karl Swann

Professor Karl Swann

Head of Biomedicine Division

Email
swannk1@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 292087 9009
Dr Walter Dewitte

Dr Walter Dewitte

Senior Lecturer

Email
dewittew@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2087 4190
Professor Jim Murray

Professor Jim Murray

Professor

Email
murrayja1@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2087 6676
Dr Florian Siebzehnrubl

Dr Florian Siebzehnrubl

Lecturer

Email
fas@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2068 8500
Professor Arwyn Tomos Jones

Professor Arwyn Tomos Jones

Professor of Membrane Traffic and Drug Delivery, and Director of Research & Engagement

Welsh speaking
Email
jonesat@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2087 6431
Professor Oliver A Williams

Professor Oliver A Williams

Director of Research
Condensed Matter and Photonics Group

Email
williamso@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2087 4978
Dr Sam Ladak

Dr Sam Ladak

Reader
Condensed Matter and Photonics Group

Email
ladaks@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2087 0157
Dr Thomas Woolley

Dr Thomas Woolley

Senior Lecturer

Email
woolleyt1@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2087 0618

Postgraduate students

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Dafydd Harlow

Research student

Email
harlowds@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 208 79073
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Vikramdeep Singh

Research student

Email
singhv8@cardiff.ac.uk
alt

Joseph Askey

Research student

Email
askeyjw@cardiff.ac.uk
alt

Rebecca Gwyther

Research student

Email
gwytherre@cardiff.ac.uk
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Rochelle Ahmed

Research student

Email
ahmedrd@cardiff.ac.uk
alt

Joshua Moore

Research student

Email
moorej16@cardiff.ac.uk

Associated staff

Dr Iestyn Pope

Dr Iestyn Pope

Project Manager

Email
popei@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2087 9037
Dr David Regan

Dr David Regan

Research Associate

Email
regandc@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2087 9304