NIH funding in the biophotonics community

This work provides a data-driven characterization of NIH funding to the biophotonics community, offering investigators, researchers, and funding agencies a clearer picture of where the field excels and where opportunities for growth remain.

We aim to characterize the current NIH funding landscape supporting core biophotonics technologies and identify strengths, gaps, and opportunities for future growth.

NIH-funded biophotonics projects in 2024 were identified using two complementary strategies: (1) a broad keyword-driven search of NIH RePORTER and (2) a targeted investigator-centered search based on participation in biophotonics-focused journals and conferences. Project abstracts were analyzed using a large language model to perform keyword clustering and automated classification across multiple dimensions, including funding institute, optical modality, clinical/disease focus, and geographic distribution. A focused analysis of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) portfolio was also performed.

The broad query captured ∼$3.3 billion in 2024 grant funding that may be connected to biophotonics. However, optical technologies were peripheral to the primary research aims in a substantial fraction of these awards. The targeted community-based approach identified $288 million in funding directly aligned with core biophotonic imaging and sensing. Cancer, neuroscience, and vision collectively represented 44% of this direct portfolio. The most common modalities included microscopy, endoscopy, fluorescence/bioluminescence imaging, and optical coherence tomography. Funding related to chronic diseases (e.g., cardiovascular and kidney disease), infectious diseases, aging, and reproductive and child health was proportionally underrepresented relative to NIH-wide priorities.

NIH exhibits strong support for biophotonics innovation in cancer, neuroscience, and vision science, reflecting historical strengths of the field. However, a substantial opportunity exists to expand impact toward areas of high national health burden where optical technologies remain underutilized. These data may help inform NIH institute-level strategies and community advocacy efforts to align future biophotonics investments with broader public health needs.