The Center for Nano- and Biophotonics (NB-Photonics) will be officially launched at a full-day kick-off event on Friday September 17 2010.

Two leading international speakers (prof. Thomas F. Krauss and prof. Alberto Diaspro) will emphasize, as introduction to the presentations of the seven research drivers and to ongoing related research topics, the importance of Nano- and Biophotonics as a current and future research area.

NB-Photonics is a multidisciplinary partnership involving 11 professors from the Faculties of Engineering, Bioscience Engineering, Sciences and Pharmaceutical Sciences which builds on the university’s excellence in research and graduate level education in the fields of photonics, life sciences and nano-sciences.

The research of NB-Photonics is structured by means of seven research “drivers”, seven major ambitions that hold the promise of ground-breaking research and the potential for extraordinary economic or societal impact.

The NB-Photonics Kick-off event targets all involved academic staff, postdocs, PhD and Master students from the participating research groups. Registration is necessary.

Program

8:30 Welcome

9:00 Opening address: vice-rector prof. Luc Moens

9:15 NB-Photonics introduction: prof. Roel Baets

9.30 Prof. Alberto Diaspro: Nano- and Biophotonics at the Italian Institute of Technology (abstract)

10:15 Break

10:45 General introduction to the research drivers and presentation of associated focus topics

• Driver 1: Large area photonics through nanostructured materials (Z. Hens)
• Focus topic 1: Colloidal Quantum Dots: From Control at the Nanoscale to Deposition over Large Areas (I. Moreels)
• Driver 5: (Bio)-Imaging of nanosized matter and biomolecules (K. Braeckmans)
• Focus topic 5: Dynamics and disease: monitoring the cell nucleus with minimally invasive imaging (W. De Vos)
  
• Driver 6: Electro-optical particle manipulation (K. Neyts)
• Focus topic 6: Beyond Millikan: single electron charging events detected with optical trapping electrophoresis (F. Beunis)
  

12:15 Lunch

13:30 Prof. Thomas F. Krauss: Novel photonic tools for biomedical and environmental studies (abstract)

14:15 General introduction to the research drivers and presentation of associated focus topics

• Driver 2: Ultra-low-power high speed optical sources and switching (D. Van Thourhout)
• Focus topic 2: Colloidal nanocrystal enhanced silicon photonics devices (B. De Geyter)
• Driver 4: Integrated photonic systems for mid-infrared biospectroscopy (G. Roelkens)
• Focus topic 4: Towards a mid-infrared spectrometer on a silicon chip (N. Hatassan / G. Roelkens)
  

15:15 Break

15:30 General introduction to the research drivers and presentation of associated focus topics

• Driver 3: Sensitive integrated label-free biosensors for multiplexed detection of proteins and DNA (D. Delbeke)
• Focus topic 3: Surface Plasmon Resonance for biosensing applications (S. Van Vlierberghe)
  
• Driver 7: Active nano-photonic implants (P. Dubruel)
• Focus topic 7: GlucoSens: towards an implantable optical sensor for glucose monitoring (G. Morren)
  

16:30 Reception & Networking

Practical details

Date: September 17 2010 from 8:30 to 17:00