The Centre of Biophotonics (CoB) at the University of St Andrews was established in 2019 with the mission of promoting interdisciplinary research and training at the interface between advanced optical imaging, photonics and biomedical sciences. The Centre integrates researchers across four schools (Physics and Astronomy, Medicine, Biology and Psychology and Neuroscience) and builds on existing strengths in the development and application of light based technologies to investigate biological process at molecular, cellular and tissue scales. The CoB brings together more than 20 research groups around three main themes: imaging across temporal and spatial scales, mechanobiology and neurophotonics. Thus, CoB addresses important questions to improve human health including the origins of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, neurological disorders and the advance in the fight against bacterial and viral pathogens. The CoB is also strongly committed to translational research and the dissemination of technologies emerging from the Centre in collaboration with other institutions and industrial partners.
Following the success of the 1st St Andrews Biophotonics Summer School in June 2024, we are please to announce that the 2nd edition will be running from the 23rd to the 27th June 2025.
Examples of feedback from attendees to last year summer school include:
Experimental sessions were a great immersion into real bioimaging, very helpful to see other methods than everyday lab routine. Overall instructors were very helpful and supportive. Would definitely recommend this to colleagues.
The summer school was very intuitive and it was a great way to use the techniques in my project. It provided a basic understanding of the major biophotonics applications.
The experimental modules were excellent. The three modules I attended were well-designed and perfectly demonstrated. I am grateful to all the instructors for their hard work.
I really liked using samples we ourselves have had a hand in preparing for the microscopy. This really helped follow through and understanding. Absolutely amazing event and i feel so lucky to have been there.
Everything was great and I enjoyed and learned a lot in this school.
More information about the 2025 Summer School can be found here.
Seeing is believing and light-based imaging technologies are, now more than ever, uniquely positioned to unveil the mechanisms of life as well as disease. Building on more than 20 years of light-based innovation for the biosciences and by collaborating across disciplines and recruiting the best talents, we aim to watch these processes unfolding in real time, from the molecular and cellular scales, to the whole-organism level.
Recent publications
- Jonathan H. Booth et al “Optical mapping of ground reaction force dynamics in freely behaving Drosophila melanogaster larvae” ELife (2024) DOI: 10.7554/eLife.87746.3 [Gather group] [Pulver Group]
- irbu, A., Bathe-Peters, M., Kumar, J.L.M. et al. Cell swelling enhances ligand-driven β-adrenergic signaling. Nat Commun 15, 7822 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-52191-y [Annibale group]
- Roser Montañana-Rosell et al Spinal inhibitory neurons degenerate before motor neurons and excitatory neurons in a mouse model of ALS.Sci. Adv.10,eadk3229(2024).DOI:10.1126/sciadv.adk3229 [Illodo group]
- Zepernick et al, Single-molecule imaging of aquaporin-4 arrays dynamics in astrocytes. Nanoscale 16, 9576 (2024) https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2024/nr/d4nr00330f [Varela group]
- Yingtao Liu et al Synchronous multi-segmental activity between metachronal waves controls locomotion speed in Drosophila larvae. eLife 12:e83328 (2023). https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.83328 [Zwart group]
- Harding, C.J., Bischoff, M., Bergkessel, M. et al. An anti-biofilm cyclic peptide targets a secreted aminopeptidase from P. aeruginosa. Nat Chem Biol 19, 1158–1166 (2023). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41589-023-01373-8 [Bischoff group]
- Akkuratov Eet al. ATP1A3 dysfunction causes motor hyperexcitability and afterhyperpolarization loss in as dystonia model. Brain, 2024;, awae373, https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awae373 [Miles group]
Participating Schools
The School of Physics and Astronomy is internationally recognized for its research at the interface between physics and life sciences. The high visibility and the successes of the School are confirmed through top ratings in various national and international rankings: for example, the School of Physics and Astronomy in St Andrews, in a joint submission with Edinburgh, was ranked joint third in the UK in REF 2014.
Research in the School of Biology is organized in three major interdiscipinary centres: Biomedical Sciences Research Complex (BSRC), Centre of Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Scottish Ocean Institute (SOI). In the last Research Excellent Framework (2014), the school was ranked top in Scotland and second in the UK for research impact. Image courtesy of Marcus Bischoff.
Multidisciplinary and collaborative approaches have been central to the continued success of medical research in St Andrews. Research programmes in various aspects of cellular medicine, infection and global health, populations and behavioural sciences, and education are currently being promoted and extended. Image courtesy of Pitt, Schubert and Gather labs.
The School of Psychology and Neuroscience has an international reputation for the quality of its research and has consistently been ranked one of the best research departments in the UK. In the last Research Excellence Framework (2014), nearly half of the School’s activities (46%) were given the highest 4* rating as truly world class and the research environment was rated as equal first in the UK. Image courtesy of Marcel Schubert / Andrew Morton
Latest News
- 1st Joint Biophotonics Webinar Gruss Lipper Biophotonics Centre (Albert Einstein College of Medicine) and the Centre of Biophotonics-CoB (St Andrews)Promoting Light4Life alliances across the atlantic 15th March 2024 14.00-17.00 UK Time https://einsteinmed.zoom.us/j/93406082376
- Lights, lasers and pizza!: Equate MeetUp with Opening Up PhotonicsThis event is open to all women & non-binary students in STEM subjects at Scottish Universities and Colleges. Light and Lasers: Equate MeetUp with Opening Up Photonics Tickets, Mon 20 Nov 2023 at 17:30 | Eventbrite Equate is delighted to be partnering with Opening up Photonics and the St Andrews’ Centre for Biophotonics for our…
- Open: Expressions of interest for PDRA fellowship applications at the CoBThe CoB is currently open to expressions of interest for researchers interested in applying for postdoctoral positions hosted at the Centre of Biophotonics under the Marie Curie PDRA scheme and the Royal Society Newton International Fellowship Scheme. Contact us as quickly as possible, more information can be found here
Next BioLIGHT CoB Seminar:
Nano Comes to Life: How nanotechnology ushers physics into biology , transforming medicine and the future of technology
Speaker: Prof Sonia Antoranz Contera
Professor of Biological Physics
University of Oxford
Host: Prof Carlos Penedo
28th February, Lecture Theatre C in School of Physics and Astronomy, 10 am
How and why do we design and build artificial structures and even machines at the nanoscale using DNA, proteins, and other biological molecules or construct hybrid bio-inorganic robots using the building principles of biology? In my talk, I will explore how nanotechnology (the capacity to visualize and manipulate matter at the nanoscale) is revolutionising medicine in ways that will have profound effects on our health. From nanomachines inspired by biology that can train the immune system to fight cancer, to nanoantibiotics that can eliminate resistant bacteria and vaccines to end the COVID pandemic, to the engineering of tissues and organs for research, drug discovery, and transplantation. More profoundly nanotech facilitates the study of biology within the framework of physics, thereby creating interfaces with other fields (e.g. quantum devices and computer science). This will potentially change not only the future of materials, engineering and AI, but also the way we think about life itself, and dare to think how we pose questions such as “what is intuition?” from a physics lab.
Full profile can be found here:
https://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/our-people/antoranzcontera