"This three years project is concerned with the development of a Near-field (NF) THz absorption spectroscopy system with specific reference to the real-time characterization of bio-matter. This system will exploit electromagnetic resonance fingerprints (i.e. characteristic spectral responses). µm and sub-µm resolution will enable to spatially discriminate important low-energy materials resonances in bio-samples. The proposed research will allow the team members from INRS-EMT and CNR-INFM-SOFT, and their partners from the Univ. of Montreal and from McGill Univ., to lead the efforts in searching novel non-invasive investigation techniques. Our efforts will require a multidisciplinary approach, focused towards the following objectives: A: The design of a novel geometry for coherent THz generation. In-situ generation (THz radiation is generated at the interface with the sample) will be used to overcome the common power limitation of NF methods (resulting from to the limited aperture of the NF tip probing). Differential techniques will be used for subtracting the inorganic component contribution. In addition elicity control of the generated THz will be implemented in order to increase the discrimination of bio-compounds. Finally, Temporal time-domain-spectroscopy will be used for measuring the sample spectral resonances. B:THz spectroscopy of biopolymers. Amino acids, Proteins and DNA possess specific THz global and sub-global modes. Joining the interest of the involved partners in mapping biological compounds our test benches will be the detection of fundamental amino acid like Tyrosine and a fundamental alpha protein like human insulin. C:Experiments to demonstrate our ability to spatially (sub-wavelength) map a micrometric structure properly designed for mimicking the application on real biological tissue"