In fluorescence-lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), a map of the emission lifetime in a cell is obtained. The goal of the PARAFLUO project is to develop and bring to the market a new optoelectronic system for sFLIM of fast dynamical processes in cells and tissues, based on a new approach capable of obtaining simultaneous spectrally resolved data (sFLIM) for the various components of the emission, thus outperforming the currently available instrumentation in terms of sensitivity, time resolution, data acquisition speed and compactness. To develop this new instrumentation system a few key objectives have been developed during the 2 years project:
a) fully-parallel monolithic array of single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs);
b) reproducible micro-lens system for focusing light onto every SPAD pixel;
c) optoelectronic setup with confocal microscope and ASIC based multichannel integrated time correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) system.

Funding scheme: Seventh Framework Programme, Research for SMEs, FP7-SME-2008-1

Consortium: 9 partners from 3 European member states; PARAFLUO includes 3 SMEs active in the scientific-technical market with consolidated know-how and 5 RTD performers with high international standard.

Project Coordinator:
Micro Photon Devices 
Dr. Roberto Biasi
Via Stradivari 4
I – 39100 Bolzano
Phone: (+39) 0471051212

IMM Project Coordinator:
Dr. Piera Maccagnani