Federal Project Grant Summary

The National Science Foundation's Division of Chemistry awarded $600,000 to the University of Wisconsin - Madison under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049) on July 15, 2026, to support research on design strategies for bright, in situ illuminated lanthanide chelates. Under the direction of Professor Eszter Boros, the research team will develop new lanthanide coordination complexes—specifically europium-based optical imaging agents—that emit yellow and red light for safe and precise biological imaging in cells and tissues. The project employs two primary technical approaches: (1) synthesis of "self-illuminating" europium chelates incorporating Cherenkov-emitting radioisotopes that enable intramolecular Cherenkov radiation energy transfer (CRET) to overcome tissue penetration limitations of short-wavelength excitation, and (2) development of a new class of europium(II) complexes with tunable ligand fields to achieve bright, red-shifted emission with high quantum yields suitable for biological imaging applications.

Beyond advancing fundamental knowledge in lanthanide chemistry and light-emission properties, this research is expected to yield non-invasive diagnostic approaches for disease detection and improved healthcare imaging technologies. The three-year project (concluding June 30, 2029) will provide interdisciplinary training for students at the chemistry-biology-medicine interface and will support outreach activities, including an audio podcast on emerging lanthanide chemistry discoveries, designed to engage diverse student populations in STEM.