ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics

ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics

RMIT University is a node of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics.

The Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CNBP) brings together physicists, chemists and biologists focused on a grand challenge – controlling nanoscale interactions between light and matter to probe the complex and dynamic nanoenvironments within living organisms.

The emerging convergence of nanoscience and photonics offers the opportunity of using light to interrogate nanoscale domains, providing unprecedentedly localised measurements. This will allow biological scientists to understand how single cells react to and communicate with their surroundings. This science will underpin a new generation of devices capable of probing the response of cells within individuals to environmental conditions or treatment, creating innovative and powerful new sensing platforms.

The CNBP has been funded for 7 years from 2014, with a total of $23 million from the ARC, and more than $16 million additional cash commitment from all partner organisations.

Our role

The RMIT team is focused on the following research themes:

Nanomaterials and Multimodal Imaging

Here, our experimental team explores advanced optical materials that efficiently deliver and collect light to and from cells and molecules locally.

This allows us to non-invasively probe individual interacting biomolecules by using nanoparticle-based "lamps". This science activity pursues bio-compatible fluorescent nanoparticles, next-generation optical fibres and nanoparticle enriched hybrid materials.

Theory and Modelling

Here, the theoretical team is working to improve measurement systems and to understand the fundamental limits of measurement. Every photon is precious, and we want to ensure that each one is optimally delivered, extracted and interrogated to achieve the Centre’s goals of developing windows into the body and using light to measure. 

We will derive the fundamental equations that allow us to understand the limits of sensing, in terms of power, temporal and spatial resolution; as well as design new platforms for the delivery and extraction of light from biological targets of interest.

Our people

RMIT Node leader - Associate Professor Brant Gibson

Brant is an experimentalist with wide-ranging research interests across fluorescent nanoprobes, photonics, hybrid integration and microscopy. He co-leads the Illuminate science theme within the CNBP.

Research officer - Dr Antony Orth

Antony is a CNBP Research Fellow, specializing in optical imaging technology development. His research interests include computational imaging, fluorescence microscopy and micro-optics fabrication.

VC Research Fellow - Dr Philipp Reineck

Philipp is a Vice-Chancellor's Research Fellow and an associate investigator of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics. His research interests span many areas including biophysics, fluorescent nanomaterials, plasmonics, nanoparticle chemistry and self-assembly, nano-photonics and bioimaging.

Meet more of our team

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RMIT Node leader - Associate Professor Brant Gibson

Brant is an experimentalist with wide-ranging research interests across fluorescent nanoprobes, photonics, hybrid integration and microscopy. He co-leads the Illuminate science theme within the CNBP.

Research officer - Dr Antony Orth

Antony is a CNBP Research Fellow, specializing in optical imaging technology development. His research interests include computational imaging, fluorescence microscopy and micro-optics fabrication.

VC Research Fellow - Dr Philipp Reineck

Philipp is a Vice-Chancellor's Research Fellow at RMIT University in Melbourne and an associate investigator of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics. He graduated in Physics from the University of Munich (LMU) and received his PhD in Materials Engineering from Monash University in 2014. His research interests span many areas including biophysics, fluorescent nanomaterials, plasmonics, nanoparticle chemistry and self-assembly, nano-photonics and bioimaging. His current focus is the development of fluorescent nanomaterials for imaging and sensing applications and understanding the optical properties of carbon-based nanomaterials.

Research Officer - Dr. Amanda Abraham

Staff with student. Image courtesy of the STEM College. Amanda is a CNBP Research Fellow and a Cell Biologist. She is interested in understanding cellular interactions with nanomaterials, with the aim to develop nanoformulations for bio-imaging and bio-sensing applications.

PhD student - Nafisa Zohora

Nafista has expertise in nano-materials synthesis, sensing and their characterisation including using HRTEM, SEM, FIB, XPS, AES, XRD, FTIR and RAMAN.

Masters student - Ashleigh Heffernan

Ashleigh's areas of research include diamond, photonics, nanolithography, light-matter interaction at the nanoscale, electron microscopy and confocal microscopy.

PhD student - Emma Wilson

PhD student - Marco Capelli

PhD student - Giannis Thalassinos

RMIT Node Admin Coordination - Brooke Nati

Over the past fifteen years at RMIT, Brooke's main roles have been Human Resources related. As the newest member to the CNBP team, Brooke is enjoying the diversity her new position is presenting.

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

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aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.

More information