VirusAwareScopes - Machine Learning-Driven Adaptive Microscopy for Long-Term Viral Infection Studies
Agency: La Caixa Foundation
Type: Health Research
Principal Investigator: Ricardo Henriques
Start-date: November 2025
End-date: October 2028
VirusAwareScopes addresses a fundamental challenge in viral research: high-resolution imaging inherently damages living cells, preventing long-term observation of infection dynamics. This project develops an intelligent microscopy platform that adapts imaging conditions in real-time using machine learning, enabling sustained nanoscale imaging while preserving cell viability. By combining multiple super-resolution modalities with AI-driven adaptive optics and PhotoFiTT technology to predict phototoxicity, the system achieves observation periods of 24+ hours while maintaining sub-120nm resolution. The platform will initially map complete HIV-1 infection cycles whilst remaining deployable to standard microscopy setups through integration with established frameworks.
