The Irish Photonic Integration Centre’s Science Foundation Ireland (IPIC SFI) Research Centre, University College Cork (UCC) Innovation, and Tyndall National Institute have launched BioPixS, a collaboration aimed at translating the latest in research into high-tech, innovative solutions for the biophotonics market. The mission of BioPixS is to create standards in biophotonics through phantoms that simulate light interaction in scattering media, such as human tissue.

“These phantoms serve a pressing need for validation of clinical methodologies, characterizations, calibration of instruments, and standardization of protocols and devices,” said Sanathana Konugolu Venkata Sekar, BioPixS’ CEO. The phantoms seek to reduce the number of animals used in preclinical trials by providing parallel solutions and optimizing clinical trials.

BioPixS participated in the Gateway UCC Sprint accelerator program and was part of a consortium selected for European Commission emergency finding for COVID-19-related research. The spinout is part of the Vascovid project, which is working to develop a platform for assessing microvasculature health in intensive care COVID-19 patients.