Politecnico di Milano researcher receives ERC grant to study laser microscopy

We met Dario after the ERC announced the names of the grantees and asked him about his project - an innovative laser microscopy system for monitoring cancer cells in real time and identifying them by their specific chemical response.

Q: What made your project attractive for the ERC?

A: "I think there are basically two reasons why I was awarded the grant," says Polli. "Firstly, the project I proposed requires a nice mix of skills – precisely the ones that I have built up in my research these past few years. Also, I think I presented the right project at the right time: certain interesting scientific discoveries have recently been made in this field and specific equipment has become available on the market, which meant the time was ripe for attempting a project as ambitious and difficult as this. I did no more than grasp this opportunity and believe I was the ideal candidate to see it through," he said.

Q: How will you put the ERC funding to use?

A: "I will allocate more than half the budget of over €1.8 million to staff recruitment,” said Polli. “The tools I will need to develop my research project are already available in at the Politecnico. I am convinced that a big part of the success of a project depends on human resources and I hope to be able to create a team of excellent people, including young people who can grow and really learn how to do research," he said. 

Q: What excites you the most about this project?

A: "It’s the big impact it will have on society,” Polli said. “In five years it could lead to the production of an instrument for use in operating theatres around the world, enabling surgeons to see in real time where is a tumour is and above all to gain immediate, reproducible information on size and type in order to decide how to operate. Today this analysis is carried out through the pathologist's eye and is therefore susceptible to human error,” he added. 

Q: How will it work?

A: "The tool will perform the chemical and functional analysis on the tissue for identification and classification, using a pulsed laser that probes the chemical content of matter, exploiting its vibrational response. This vibrational signature becomes a sort of digital fingerprint of the molecule."

Passion and enthusiasm drive everything he does: "An aspect of my work that I very much appreciate is scientific divulgation: I like the idea of transmitting my passion to others even though it is difficult because it requires the explanation of complex concepts; a qualitative shift but without oversimplification. Outside the University environment I have worked with high school students and a few weeks ago I gave a lecture on lasers for children of 7 to 13 years old – quite a challenge! A few years ago, one of my courses convinced a student to change Degree and enrol in Physics Engineering. Great satisfaction!"

"The Politecnico is an oasis of happiness in which to do research,” said Polli. The laser research group I belong to is at the forefront; it has a strong international reputation, good resources and a lot of really good people working there. To anyone who asks me why I don't go to work at MIT, I say: I have my own little MIT right here," he said.

World class research at the Politecnico di Milano

In addition to Dario, three other researchers at our University have received an ERC consolidator grant, which is awarded to researchers with 7 to 12 years post-PhD experience and a very promising scientific curriculum. The recipients are Daniele Ielmini of the Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering; Manuela Raimondi of the Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering; and Matteo Passoni of the Energy Department.

Out of 13 projects submitted by Politecnico research groups, four were approved.

In addition, Giulio Cerullo was awarded an ERC proof of concept grant to fund the project “MISSION - Mid Infrared Spectrometers by an Innovative Optical Interferometer”; and Giovanni Isella received an ERC starting grant for the project “Inspire - Chip - scale INtegrated Photonics for the mid - Infra Red”.