About the LFD

The Laboratory for Fluorescence Dynamics (LFD) is a national research resource center for biomedical fluorescence spectroscopy, jointly supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) division of the National Institutes of Health (grant number 2P41GM103540) and the University of California, Irvine.

History and Organization

The center was established in August 1986 by Enrico Gratton and William W. Mantulin at the Loomis Laboratory for Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

In 2006 the LFD relocated to the University of California, Irvine, where it occupies a ~8000 sq. ft. facility in the interdisciplinary Natural Sciences II building, Department of Biomedical Engineering.

The Principal Investigator of the LFD is Enrico Gratton. The current Co-Investigator is Michelle A. Digman. Former directors and Co-Investigators were William W. Mantulin, Robert M. Clegg and Theodore L. Hazlett.

About two dozen people are currently working in the LFD. Over the years more than thirty students have graduated out of the LFD. Many former members are now distinguished scientists in academia and industry.

The Resource Advisory Committee, a board of distinguished scientists, meets annually to discuss progress and future directions of the LFD.

Services and Resources

The LFD provides a state-of-the-art laboratory for fluorescence measurements with technical assistance to visiting scientists: local, national, and international. No facility or user fees are charged, except in the case of technical testing or sponsored research.

Resources are maintained for spectroscopy, microscopy, biochemistry, cell culture, and data analysis.

Researchers interested in using the resource should peruse the service procedures and contact the user coordinator.

Research and Development

The LFD designs, tests, and implements advances in the technology of hardware, software, and biomedical applications.

Research projects range from probing structure and function of biomolecules and membranes in-vitro using steady-state and time-resolved optical spectroscopy, over temporally and spatially correlating and tracking biological processes in cell and tissue cultures using fluorescence microscopy, to non-invasively monitoring physiological processes in live plants, animals and humans.

Advances in data analysis are steadily integrated in the Globals Software for Imaging and Spectroscopy.

Training and Dissemination

The LFD actively disseminates knowledge of fluorescence spectroscopic principles, instrumentation, and applications to the scientific community.

Research results are published in peer-reviewed journals and books, PhD and Master theses, and posters presented at conferences.

Dozens of post doctorial research associates and graduate students have received training and education in the LFD.

The LFD organizes an annual Workshop in Advanced Fluorescence Imaging and Dynamic and provides online tutorials for software and research techniques developed in-house.

LFD staff and students can be met at various events such as conferences and seminars.

In tribute to Gregorio Weber the LFD organizes the tri annual "International Weber Symposium on Innovative Fluorescence Methodologies in Biochemistry and Medicine" and supports the "Gregorio Weber International Prize in Biological Fluorescence".

The LFD website at https://www.lfd.uci.edu is one of the central resources to keep the fluorescence community updated about the LFD's various activities.

Other Funding

Research at the LFD is funded by a multitude of grants besides the main P41 grant by the National Institutes of Health (NIGMS P41 GM103540). As of June 2008:

• The Keck Foundation:
• Cell Migration Consortium (CMC): NIH National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) U54
• Center for Complex Biological Systems (CCBS, Optical Biology Core): NIH National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) P50
• Core Center for Hearing and Communication Research: NIH National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDDCD)
• Regulation of Renal Phosphate Transport by Lipids: National Institutes of Health R01

Further Information

• NIH Project Information (P41 GM103540)
• NIGMS Biomedical Technology Research Centers
• Take a picture tour through the facility
• Selected activities of the LFD
• News and media about or related to the LFD

Address and Contact