Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) awarded the Regents of the University of Michigan a Project Grant totaling $429,000 (awarded May 1, 2026, with completion targeted for March 1, 2028) under the Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health program (CFDA 93.286). The project develops an ultrasensitive bioassay platform utilizing a microlaser ensemble quenching detection method to overcome limitations inherent in existing digital enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technologies. The proposed technology addresses the critical challenge of achieving simultaneously high sensitivity and ultra-large dynamic range without requiring serial sample dilution, artificial curve stitching, or compromise in measurement accuracy across multiple analytes with vastly different concentrations.

The platform leverages vertically-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) microarray technology to establish a unified detection methodology that avoids discontinuities between digital and analog detection modes. By scanning pump levels across the VCSEL ensemble and analyzing the fraction of lasing microlasers, the technology eliminates the need for pre-determination of dilution factors and enables multiplexed detection of biomarkers with significantly improved performance characteristics. This research addresses fundamental gaps in biomedical diagnostic capabilities and aligns with NIBIB's mission to advance technology-driven solutions for improved disease detection and diagnosis across the full clinical spectrum.