This $274,594 Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (CFDA 47.084) program supports research and development of an innovative technology for cancer diagnosis and treatment. The project aims to improve molecular profiling and clinical laboratory testing of cancer samples by optimizing microdissection techniques. The research will focus on modeling and optimizing the opto-thermal-mechanical interactions involved in microdissection to enable reliable extraction of cancer cells from patient biopsy samples. The goal is to develop an instrument for research and commercial clinical laboratory use that can address limitations of current tumor cell purification and extraction methods. This award reflects NSF's mission to advance science and engineering research leading to breakthrough technologies that address national and societal challenges, such as the growing burden of cancer.