Ultrafast Pulsed Laser Source for the Spectroscopic Integration (SPIN) Program

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***The Spectroscopic Integration (SPIN) Program is a multidisciplinary initiative between researchers at the University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus in collaboration with the British Columbia Cancer Agency. The SPIN Program was established in 2015 to develop spectroscopic technologies for effective detection of cancerous tissue and high-sensitivity monitoring on the response of cancerous tissue to radiation therapy. The impact of such technologies can be significant, in that they would enable early diagnoses (within clinical settings) and personalization of treatments (via adaptations to the prescribed radiation therapy).******The SPIN Program's core spectroscopic technologies are based upon terahertz and Raman spectroscopy. The technologies are being developed for, and ultimately integrated within, lab-on-a-chip devices. Preliminary research has shown great promise for the integration of these core technologies. Raman spectroscopy is an established technology for characterizations of cancerous tissue—albeit with known challenges. Terahertz spectroscopy is an emerging technology that has recently been shown to have heightened sensitivity to the physiological markers of cancerous tissue—although the underlying mechanisms are not yet fully known. The SPIN Program is leveraging the complementary nature of the terahertz and Raman spectroscopic technologies and applying them within lab-on-a-chip devices. The two technologies would have improved potential for the discrimination of cancerous and healthy tissue on a cellular level, while the lab-on-a-chip device architecture would support future clinical implementation.******The SPIN Program has made great strides in its integrative research, although it recently encountered a critical issue relating to the failing of its main research tool, being an ultrafast pulsed laser source. The ultrafast pulsed laser source that is used to generate and detect terahertz radiation has failed—and this has jeopardized much of the work in the program. This NSERC Research Tools and Instruments proposal is a response to this issue in that it requests an ultrafast pulsed laser source (and related support equipment). The acquisition of this research tool is essential to the SPIN Program, in that it would allow the program to continue its research activities, support its personnel, and ultimately realize effective technologies for cancer therapy.**