STTR Phase II: A New Hyperspectral Imaging Spectrometer

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II research project develops a macroscopic fluorescent scanner that utilizes hyperspectral imaging with enhanced capability for reading microarrays, multiwell plates, and two dimensional (2D) gels. The system utilizes novel optical design to provide more efficient light gathering and less aberration for better imaging versus conventional hyperspectral optical designs. The anticipated technical benefits include improved signal-to-noise (greater sensitivity) and the better dye multiplexing (enabling the use of multiple dyes to detect of multiple analytes simultaneously).The broader impact of this research will be to enable more rapid advancement of scientific discovery by providing enhanced tools for study of the complexity of biological signaling, metabolic and response networks using non-radioactive optical detection methods to improve safety and reduce waste problems with optical detection.