FeLow-D Seminar Highlights Breakthrough Research Linking Physics and Biomedicine

On October 7, 2025, the Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia (ISSP UL) hosted a seminar under the FeLow-D ERA Chair project, featuring Professor Igor Sokolov from Tufts University (Boston, USA) — a world-leading expert in nanomechanics and biomedical engineering.

Professor Sokolov’s lecture, “Scanning Probe Microscopy: Towards Biomedicine,” showcased how Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), traditionally a materials science technique, is now being transformed into a revolutionary tool for medical diagnostics and bioinformatics.

One of the key highlights of the talk was the introduction of the Ringing Mode — a novel AFM modality that, when integrated with machine learning, enables the detection of unique cancer “signatures” at the single-cell level. This innovation allows researchers to accurately distinguish between healthy and malignant cells across various cancer types, paving the way for early diagnosis and precision medicine.

“Professor Sokolov’s pioneering work exemplifies the cross-disciplinary vision we pursue within FeLow-D, merging physics, materials science, and biomedicine to serve future technologies and society,”
said Dr. Arturs Zolotarjovs, Head of the Optical Materials Laboratory at ISSP UL.

The seminar also underlined the strategic development of ISSP UL’s research infrastructure. Two state-of-the-art Atomic Force Microscopes are scheduled for installation in 2026, reinforcing the Institute’s capacity for advanced nanoscale characterization and MedTech research. These instruments will support both FeLow-D and national R&I initiatives in energy, sensing, and healthcare technologies, strengthening Latvia’s position in the European research ecosystem.

Led by Dr. Andrei Kholkin, the FeLow-D ERA Chair project aims to establish ISSP UL as a European center of excellence in low-dimensional ferroelectrics, fostering innovation at the intersection of nanotechnology, materials science, and biomedical engineering.

The event drew interest from both senior researchers and students eager to learn more about the rapidly growing field of nanodiagnostics and smart biomedical systems, emphasizing ISSP UL’s role as an open innovation hub in advanced materials and cross-disciplinary research.