BioCam QPM Research Awards Contest

The BioCam QPM Research Awards were created to spur biologically important applications of Quantitative Phase Microscopy (QPM) technology. 

We at 4D believe QPM can have a broad impact on the advancement of biology and drug discovery. Therefore, we are challenging the scientific community to submit proposals regarding advanced applications for QPM technology. We are seeking applications within any field of life science and biology including (but not limited to) quantitative bio-imaging, biophysics, drug discovery, pharma, biotechnology, stem cells, diagnosis, cytometry, morphology, and cell mechanics.

Up to three winning researchers or organizations will receive $2,000 cash prizes for submitting the winning proposals. In addition, if appropriate to the application, 4D Technology will provide on-site use of a BioCam Quantitative Phase Microscope, along with support personnel and training, to validate the application and acquire data appropriate for a long-term research proposal. 4D Technology will gladly coauthor papers and collaborate on grants or other funding opportunities to further promote research in this applications space.

The competition is open to all researchers and organizations who can demonstrate a unique and original application for Quantitative Phase Microscopy.

Click here to apply using our online application form (or click here for the mobile friendly version).

You will also be able to submit supporting documents such as drawings, illustrations, photos, references, etc.

Applications should not include any information considered proprietary by you or your organization. If more information is required, 4D Technology may contact entrants for additional details. The contest rules are available here.

A panel of PhD scientists from 4D Technology will evaluate all entries to determine the winner(s). We prefer applications in which quantitative phase provides unique information not available via other techniques, applications with a large impact on advancing biological studies, and applications with a potentially broad diagnostic, clinical or research applications.

Submissions will be accepted from 15 April to 31 May, 2014.

Winners will be notified by 30 June 2014. 

Learn more about the BioCam Quantitative Phase Microscope on our web site.

Our Research Blog includes videos of the BioCam in action and results from several recent applications projects.

Live Cell Measurements: Oligodendrocytes, Myocytes and Myoblasts

4D Technology recently measured various live cells while the BioCam Quantitative Phase Microscope was on site at a pharmaceutical research organization. Here are several of the videos—we are in the process of quantifying various aspects of these experiments.

Oligodendrocytes measured over 30 minutes with data taken once per minute. Stretching, contraction, and bending of the various processes (branches) can be observed over this time frame.

Myocytes measured over a 211x211 um field of view. The beginning of the cell fusion process is observed as well as flapping of the plasma membranes as the cells stretch and reorient themselves in preparation for fusion. This time series was taken at 10 second intervals.

Myoblasts with multiple bursts measured at 10 frames/second over a period of an hour showing vesicles moving through the cell.

4D Presentation at BIOS San Francisco, Feb. 6

Dr. Goldie Goldstein will be presenting “Quantitative Phase Microscopy: How to Make Phase Data Meaningful” at BIOS in San Francisco, Thursday, Feb 6, 10:50-11:10am in Room 304 (Esplanade). Please join Drs. Goldstein and Creath for this informative presentation. If you’d like to arrange a time to meet them separately you can e-mail kathy.creath@4dtechnology.com.

4D Presentation at Quantitative BioImaging Conference

In January Dr. Kathy Creath and Dr. Goldie Goldstein presented “Real-Time Quantitative Optical Volume Measurement of Dynamic Cellular Motion” at the Quantitative BioImaging Conference in Albuquerque. The conference was an excellent venue to explore how quantitative phase microscopy can be used in conjunction with other techniques to extract more information from studies.

3D Imaging of Zebrafish Blood Flow

These videos shows the blood flow in the cardinal (axial) vein of a 3-day old anesthetized zebrafish (Danio rerio). The videos were created using the BioCam Quantitative Phase Microscope with 511nm LED source, 20X magnification, and 33 x 44 micron field of view.

 

Poster Presented at MMA 2013

Dr. Katherine Creath presented results at the August Microscopy and Microanalysis Meeting in Indianapolis, IN. She and the team at 4D continue to work with various research groups to advance high-resolution quantitative phase imaging applications.

Video Introducing the 4D Technology BioCam Phase Imaging Microscope

This video shows a beta version of the BioCam Quantitative Phase Microscope in action. Our thanks to Howard Letovsky for assembling this video.

Dynamic Cellular Measurements

In a recent case, cardiac myocytes from 1-2 day old neonatal Sprague Dawley (Harlan, Indianapolis, IN) rats were prepared at the University of Arizona and plated onto #1 round coverslips. After 2 weeks of incubation the cells were measured in a Bioptechs FCS3 perfusion chamber with an aluminized base plate and a 100μm gasket. Cells were kept at 37°C with an HBSS (Hank’s balanced salt solution) fluid bath. Figure 3 shows OT maps of an area of cells imaged at 40X (20X with 2X FOV lens) before and after pushing IPHC (isoproterenol hydrochloride – a beta adrenergic agonist).

The images below are the first in two time series of 200 datasets taken at 15 fps over a 13.3 sec time period. These images are the same 349 x 326 pixel subarea of 1050x1200 images. The optical volume of the subareas is determined by summing all the OT values and then scaling so that both traces have the same mean and same relative scaling. The actual physical volume is not obtainable from these data because the thickness of the cell culture and the index of refraction data are unknown.

A major advantage of this technique is that relative physical changes can easily be measured. The figure below shows the relative optical volume for these two time series before and after pushing IPHC. These cells spontaneously beat (or twitch) about once every 4 seconds when in the HBSS at 37°C. After the IPHC is pushed, the beating frequency increases by a factor of 8 to twice a second and the flexion is about 3 times stronger. The optical volume is getting smaller in this subarea when the cells beat because the cells are noticeably stretching out and expanding during the beats.

These measurements show how quantitative optical phase and optical volume measurements can be
used to study a group of cells over time.

Swimming Paramecium Video

This video shows the cilia of a paramecium moving measured using the 4D Technology BioCam.  The 3D surface topographic maps which comprise the video were obtained at 15fps and 50X magnification. Cilia motion is quantifiable from time series image sequences.

Paramecium Cilia Video 

The image strip below shows the paramecium using various BioCam Quantitative Phase Microscope imaging modes: (a) Phase contrast. (b) DIC. (c) Dark field. (d) OT. (e) OT/DIC Composite. (f) 3D OT topography.

Protozoa Video

This movie shows a swimming protozoa in water measured with the 4D Technology BioCam Quantitative Phase Microscope. The video shows various imaging modes, which can be changed on the fly either before or after data capture.

Protozoa Video