I will describe the NSF Center for Biophotonics which is headquartered at UC Davis but involves 8 other participating research institutions as well as ~ 20 corporate affiliates. Our research explores the applications of photon-based technologies to the life sciences and medicine with a special emphasis on grand challenges such as molecular scale imaging, understanding protein-protein interactions in living cells and ultimately, even surgery at the cellular level of precision. I will describe research ongoing in our thematic areas such as advanced microscopy systems, sensors and bioassays as well as medical device development.

 Work supported by the National Science Foundation under Cooperative Agreement No. PHY-0120999