SUMMARY The Center for Label-free Imaging and Multiscale Biophotonics (CLIMB) develops cutting-edge optical and computational imaging technologies for addressing grand challenges in biomedicine, including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Building upon the recent advances in interferometric, nonlinear, chemical, and computational imaging at UIUC, CLIMB will establish a unique technology and training hub for cutting-edge biophotonics. Specifically, the three Technology Research and Development (TRD) projects will synergize expertise in multimodal and nonlinear imaging from the Boppart group, computational imaging from the Anastasio group, and quantitative phase imaging, from the Popescu group, to translate new technology from lab-to-clinic and point-of-care settings. The unifying concept for the technologies developed at CLIMB is the ability to extract quantitative biomarkers from specimens using intrinsic contrast imaging, i.e., label-free. These technologies will be pushed for the first time to handheld configurations to allow in-vivo and point-of-care (POC) operation. We developed a rigorous and inclusive technology training and dissemination plan, as well as a comprehensive educational program to prepare the next generation of biophotonics researchers for excelling in label-free imaging.

NARRATIVE The Center for Label-free Imaging and Multiscale Biophotonics (CLIMB) develops cutting-edge optical and computational imaging technologies for addressing grand challenges in biomedicine, including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. We developed a rigorous and inclusive technology training and dissemination plan, as well as a comprehensive educational program to prepare the next generation of biophotonics researchers for excelling in label-free imaging.