Posted in | News | Microscopy

SiMPore Win Grant to Develop TEM Imaging for Biomedical Applications

SiMPore Inc., an early-stage nanotechnology company in Rochester, NY, has received a Phase I SBIR grant from the National Institutes of Health to improve phase contrast transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

An electron microscope uses a beam of electrons instead of light to illuminate an object of interest. It allows the object to be observed at one-million-times magnification or greater. In theory, this level of magnification should permit biomedical researchers to see the three-dimensional structure of a virus or similarly sized biological molecule. However, current TEM methods are limited in certain aspects. Phase contrast promises to overcome some of these inherent limitations of TEM imaging of biological structures.

The technology that SiMPore develops will increase the practicality of phase-contrast TEM to image biological molecules. By fabricating next generation phase plates, a core component of phase-contrast TEM, SiMPore hopes to increase the practical accessibility of this method. SiMPore will apply its expertise in the fabrication of thin-films to create a new class of highly manufacturable phase plates.

The grant application elicited both high scores and favorable compliments from NIH reviewers. The reviewers unanimously acknowledged that the proposed work addresses an unmet need, is highly innovative and greatly significant. They also recognized that the proposal could have a high-degree of immediate impact on the field of electron microscopy.

Dr. Christopher Striemer, Vice-President of Membrane Development at SiMPore, said, “We believe several key factors contributed to the success of our application. Our expertise in thin-film micro-fabrication, combined with the electron microscopy expertise of our collaborator, and a clear market need for these components, provided a strong basis for our proposal. Our case was very compelling.”

SiMPore will collaborate with the New York State Department of Health's Wadsworth Center, which will test the phase plates SiMPore develops. Mr. Michael Marko of the Wadsworth Center, a recognized expert in the use of phase plates, will direct the evaluation of SiMPore’s prototypes. Mr. Marko has developed several first-in-class innovations in phase-contrast electron microscopy.

Tell Us What You Think

Do you have a review, update or anything you would like to add to this news story?

Leave your feedback
Your comment type
Submit

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.