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Prof. Puxiang Lai
PolyU Scholars Hub

Professor Puxiang LAI

Associate Professor

Exploits light and sound to probe and treat biological tissues

PolyU Scholars Hub
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Biography

Prof. Puxiang Lai received his Bachelor from Tsinghua University in 2002, Master from Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2005, and PhD from Boston University in 2011. In September 2015, he joined Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University as a Tenure-track Assistant Professor, and was promoted to Tenured Associate Professor in July 2021.

Prof. Lai’s research interests focus on deep-tissue optical focusing, imaging, stimulation, and treatment. Current research projects include, but are not limited to, wavefront shaping, photoacoustic imaging, neuron stimulation, computational optics, and artificial intelligence. His research has fueled more than 100 top journal publications, such as Nature Photonics, Nature Communications, eLight, Light: Science & Applications, Advanced Photonics, and The Innovation. He has been invited to give more than 100 seminars or invited talks worldwide. Since 2015, his research has been continuously supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), Hong Kong Research Grant Council (RGC), Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC), Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province, and Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission (STIC).

Prof. Lai was awarded the 2016-2017 Hong Kong RGC Early Career Award, the 2018/2021/2023 Hong Kong Polytechnic University Faculty of Engineering Research Grant Achievement Award, the 2019 PolyU K.C. Wong Belt and Road Visiting Fellowship Award, and the 2020/2023 Hong Kong Polytechnic University Faculty of Engineering Faculty Research Award. As a recognition for his contribution to the field, currently Puxiang serves as Associate Editor of Journal of Visual Computing for Industry, Biomedicine, and Art (VCIBA) and Editor for quite a few premium journals, such as The Innovation, The Innovation Medicine, Advanced Photonics Nexus, Advanced Imaging, Journal of Innovative Optics in Health and Science (JIOHS), and Medicine in Novel Technology and Devices (MEDNTD). He also serves as a Council Member of the World Association for Chinese Biomedical Engineers (WACBE), the Director of Chinese Laser Press (CLP)- Hong Kong Branch, a Standing Committee Member of the Biomedical Optics Panel in the Chinese Optical Society, Committee Member of the Biomedical Optics Panel in the Chinese Society of Biomedical Engineering, Senior Member of the Optical Society of America (Optica/OSA), Visiting Professor of Southern Medical University (China), and Visiting Chair Professor of Xidian University (China).

Research Interests

  • Deep-tissue optics
  • Optical wavefront shaping
  • Photoacoustic/optoacoustic imaging
  • Optical microscopy
  • Computing imaging
  • Artificial intelligence

Academic and Professional Experience

    • Associate Professor, Biophotonics Lab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China, Jul 2021 – current
    • Assistant Professor, Biophotonics Lab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China, Sep 2015 – Jun 2021
    • Associate Professor, Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China, Jan 2017 – current
    • Postdoctoral Research Associate, Optical Imaging Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, USA, Jul 2010 – Aug 2015
    • Graduate Research Assistant (Ph.D.), Physical Acoustics Lab, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Boston University, USA, Sep 2005 – Jun 2010
    • Graduate Research Assistant (M.S.), Institute of Acoustics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, Sep 2002 – Jul 2005

Research Outputs

(Please refer to CV for complete list of publications)

  1. [Qi Zhao, Huanhao Li, Tianting Zhong], Shengfu Cheng, Haofan Huang, Haoran Li, Jing Yao, Wenzhao Li, Chi Man Woo, Lei Gong, Yuanjin Zheng#, Zhipeng Yu#, and Puxiang Lai#, "Extended Learning Robustness for High-Fidelity Human Face Imaging from Spatiotemporal Decorrelated Speckles", Laser and Photonics Reviews (in press) (2025)
  2. [Jing Yao, Zhipeng Yu, Yufeng Gao, Baoju Wang], Zhiyuan Wang, Tianting Zhong, Bixiong Pan, Huanhao Li, Hui Hui#, Wei Zheng#, Qiuqiang Zhang#, and Puxiang Lai#, "Deep-penetrating and high-resolution continuous-wave nonlinear microscopy based on homologous dual-emission upconversion adaptive optics", Nano Letters 25(13):5482-5492 (2025)
  3. Wenzhao Li, Jingbo Li, Xiaoya Ding, Qitao Tan, Weijian Sun#, Puxiang Lai#, and Yuanjin Zhao#, "Multi-bioinspired electronic skins with on-demand adhesion and optoelectronic synergistic display capabilities", The Innovation 6(5): 100877 (2025)
  4. Feichao Xuan, Xingyang Zhao, Weiran Pang, Zirong Li, Xiangyi Yin, Weizhong Xie, Xiaojun Zeng, Liming Nie, Junying Yang, Puxiang Lai#, Chihua Fang#, "Biomimetic Co-delivery of Lenvatinib and FePt Nanoparticles for Enhanced Ferroptosis/Apoptosis Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma", Advanced Healthcare Materials (2025)
  5. Zhipeng Yu, Xinyue Gao, Jing Yao, Haoran Li, Yuzhi Shi, Bo Li, Zhenwei Xie, Xiaocong Yuan#, Puxiang Lai#, and Qinghua Song#, "Spin-Orbit-Locking Vectorial Metasurface Holography", Advanced Materials 37(9): 202415142 (2025) (Insider front cover article)
  6. [Siyang Zheng, Wenzhao Li, Weiran Pang], Tianting Zhong#, and Puxiang Lai#, "Optical transparency in live animals: leap towards deep-tissue applications", Advanced Photonics 6(6): 060504 (2024)
  7. Zhipeng Yu, Xinyue Gao], Jing Yao, Zhiyuan Wang, Tianting Zhong, Yuzhi Shi, Bo Li, Puxiang Lai#, Xiangping Li#, and Qinghua Song#, "A spatial-frequency patching metasurface enabling super-capacity perfect vector vortex beams", eLight 4:21 (2024). (Cover article)
  8. [Jiyu Li, Yingying Zhou, Xiazi Huang], Puxiang Lai#, and Yuan Huang#, "Surface adaptive interfaces: Bioresorbable ultrasound biomedical devices for non-invasive monitoring and imaging of deep-tissue homeostasis", The Innovation 5(4): 100651 (2024)
  9. Weiran Pang, Bowen Zhu, Honghui Li, Yingying Zhou, Chi Man Woo, Xiazi Huang, Tianting Zhong, Hsuan Lo, Laiyou Wang, Puxiang Lai#, and Liming Nie#, "Direct Monitoring of Whole-Brain Electrodynamics via High-Spatiotemporal-Resolution Photoacoustics with Voltage-Sensitive Dye", Laser and Photonics Reviews 18(10): 2400165 (2024)
  10. [Zhipeng Yu, Huanhao Li, Wannian Zhao], Po-Sheng Huang, Yu-Tsung Lin, Jing Yao, Wenzhao Li, Qi Zhao, Pin Chieh Wu, Patrice Genevet#, Qinghua Song#, and Puxiang Lai#, "High-security Learning-based Optical Encryption assisted by Disordered Metasurface", Nature Communications 15(1): 2607 (2024)
  11. [Tao Huang#, Huiyu Xu, Haitao Wang, Haofan Huang, Yongjun Xu, Baohua Li], Shenda Hong, Guoshuang Feng, Shuyi Kui, Guangjian Liu, Dehua Jiang, Zhi-Cheng Li, Ye Li, Congcong Ma, Chunyan Su, Wei Wang, Rong Li, Puxiang Lai#, and Jie Qiao#, "Artificial intelligence for medicine: Progress, challenges, and perspectives", The Innovation Medicine 1(2): 100030 (2023)
  12. [Xiazi Huang, Hui Hui], Wenting Shang, Pengli Gao, Yingying Zhou, Weiran Pang, Chi Man Woo, Jie Tian#, and Puxiang Lai#, "Deep penetrating and sensitive targeted magnetic particle imaging and photothermal therapy of early-stage glioblastoma based on a biomimetic nanoplatform", Advanced Science 2300854 (2023)
  13. Huanhao Li, Zhipeng Yu, Tianting Zhong, Shengfu Cheng, and Puxiang Lai#, "Towards ideal focusing of diffused light via optical wavefront shaping", Advanced Photonics 5(2): 020502 (2023)
  14. Xuyu Zhang, Jingjing Gao, Yu Gan, Chunyuan Song, Dawei Zhang#, Songlin Zhuang, Shensheng Han, Puxiang Lai#, and Honglin Liu#, "Different channels to transmit information in scattering media". PhotoniX 4, 10 (2023)
  15. [Qi Zhao, Huanhao Li, Zhipeng Yu], Chi Man Woo, Tianting Zhong, Shengfu Cheng, Yuanjin Zheng, Honglin Liu, Jie Tian#, and Puxiang Lai#, "Speckle-based optical cryptosystem and its application for human face recognition via deep learning", Advanced Science 9(25): 2202047 (2022)
  16. [Zhipeng Yu, Huanhao Li, Tianting Zhong, Jung-Hoon Park], Shengfu Cheng, Chi Man Woo, Qi Zhao, Jing Yao, Yingying Zhou, Xiazi Huang, Weiran Pang, Lefeng Peng, Hanshol Yoon, Yuecheng Shen, Honglin Liu, Yuanjin Zheng, YongKeun Park#, Lihong V. Wang#, and Puxiang Lai#, "Wavefront shaping: A versatile tool to conquer multiple scattering in multidisciplinary fields", The Innovation 3(5): 623-637 (2022)
  17. Zhipeng Yu, Huanhao Li, Tianting Zhong, and Puxiang Lai#, "Enhancing spatiotemporal focusing of light deep inside scattering media with time-gated reflection matrix", Light: Science & Applications 11: 167 (2022)
  18. Wenzhao Li, Junying Lai, Yan Zu, and Puxiang Lai#, "Cartilage-Inspired Hydrogel Lubrication Strategy", The Innovation 3(5): 100275 (2022)
  19. Huanhao Li, Zhipeng Yu, Qi Zhao, Tianting Zhong, and Puxiang Lai#, "Accelerating deep learning with high energy efficiency: from microchip to physical systems", The Innovation 3(4): 100252 (2022)
  20. [Yingying Zhou, Junguo Ni], Chunyi Wen#, and Puxiang Lai#, "Light on Osteoarthritic Joint: From Bench to Bed ", Theranostics 12 (2):542-557 (2022)
  21. [Puxiang Lai, Lidai Wang, Jian Wei Tay], and Lihong V. Wang#, "Photoacoustically guided wavefront shaping (PAWS) for enhanced optical focusing in scattering media," Nature Photonics 9, 126-132 (2015)
  22. [Yan Liu, Puxiang Lai], Cheng Ma, Xiao Xu, Alexandra Grabar, and Lihong V. Wang#, "Optical focusing deep inside dynamic scattering media with near-infrared time-reversed ultrasonically encoded (TRUE) light," Nature Communications 6:5904 (2015)
  1. "Deep-tissue optical focusing towards in vivo by Fast Photoacoustically guided Wavefront Shaping (PAWS)", 2017-2020, 918,597 HKD, Hong Kong Research Grant Council (RGC), Early Career Scheme, No. 25204416, Hong Kong, 2016 (PI)
  2. "适用于生物组织深层的高分辨率无创光学聚焦及其应用研究", 2017-2020, 580,000 RMB, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC),面上項目, No. 81671726, China, 2016 (PI)
  3. "小动物全身高速光声分子影像设备研制及其应用", 2017-2022, 6,350,000 RMB, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC),國家重大科研儀器研製項目, No. 81627805, China, 2016 (Co-PI; budget 1/3 allocated to me)
  4. "多模光纤快速波前整形技术及其在生物医学成像和传感中的应用前瞻", 2018-2020, 500,000 RMB, Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission, 基礎研究-自由探索項目, No. JCYJ20170818104421564, Shenzhen, China, 2018 (PI)
  5. "Development of Aggregation Induced Emission-Boosted Adaptive Optical Microscopy for Enhanced Molecular Imaging", 2019-2020, 1,353,550 HKD, Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC), Innovation and Technology Support Program, Tier 3, No. ITS/022/18, Hong Kong, 2018 (PI)
  6. "Multiscale photoacoustic molecular imaging for early diagnosis of brain glioma", 2020-2024, 2,970,000 RMB, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), 重點項目, No. 81930048, China, 2019 (PI)
  7. "基于多模光纤反射模式传输矩阵的散射光聚焦技术及其在生物医学中的应用初探",2019-2022, 100,000 RMB, 廣東省科學技術廳, 面上項目, No. 2019A1515011374, China, 2019 (PI)
  8. "光纤生物医学传感及成像技术", 2020-2025, 20,000,000 RMB, 廣東省科學技術廳,v廣東特支計劃本土創新創業團隊項目, No. 2019BT02X105, China, 2020 (Co-PI; budget 10% allocated to me)
  9. "Forward-looking intravascular photoacoustic/ultrasound imaging technology for the assessment and guidance of cardiovascular chronic total occlusion intervention", 2020-2024, 6,179,200 HKD, Hong Kong Research Grant Council (RGC), Research Impact Fund (RIF), No. R5029-19, Hong Kong, 2020 (Co-PI; budget 11.6% allocated to me)
  10. "Multiscale photoacoustic imaging for small animal myocardial microcirculation evaluation", 2021-2023, 2,110,500 HKD, Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC), Innovation and Technology Fund - Guangdong-Hong Kong Technology Cooperation Funding Scheme (ITF-TCFS), No. GHP/043/19SZ, Hong Kong, 2020 (PI)
  11. "Fiber-based small animal head-mounted photoacoustic microscopy)", 2021-2024, 1,898,915 HKD, Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC), Innovation and Technology Fund - Guangdong-Hong Kong Technology Cooperation Funding Scheme (ITF-TCFS), No. GHP/044/19GD, Hong Kong, 2020 (PI)
  12. "Reflective multimode fiber-based wavefront shaping and its in vitro demonstrations for minimally invasive high-resolution stimulation and imaging in deep biological tissue", 2022-2024, 563,714 HKD, Hong Kong Research Grant Council (RGC), General Research Fund (GRF), No. 15217721, Hong Kong, 2021 (PI)
  13. "Unveiling neural activities through spatiotemporally optimized multiphoton (STOMP) microscopy", 2022-2024, 7,883,046 HKD, Hong Kong Research Grant Council (RGC), Collaborative Research Fund (CRF), No. C7074-21GF, Hong Kong, 2022 (Co-PI; budget 12.7% allocated to me)
  14. "多模光纤内窥显微成像技术机理研究", 2023-2025, 1,500,000 RMB, Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission, 基础研究重点项目, No. JCYJ20220818100202005, Shenzhen, China, 2022 (Co-PI; budget 49.8% allocated to me)
  15. "Multimode fiber-based deep-penetrating ultraviolet photoacoustic microscopy for in-vivo micron-scale label-free tumor margin assessment and intraoperative histopathology of gliomas", 2025-2027, 1,068,699 HKD, Hong Kong Research Grant Council (RGC), General Research Fund (GRF), No. 15125724, Hong Kong, 2024 (PI)
  16. "Research of intelligent pathology based on multiparameter in-vivo optical imaging", 2025-2027, 2,316,950 HKD, Innovation and Technology Fund - Mainland-Hong Kong Joint Funding Scheme (ITF-MHKJFS) (2025) Secured (PI)
  1. 赖溥祥，周颖颖，庞未然，"一种基于基底光声的组织硬度研究新方法及应用"，中国国家知识产权局，申请号CN202210602712.5，申请日期2022年5月30日，公告号CN116183507A，公告日2023年5月30日
  2. 赖溥祥，赵麒，李焕浩，余志鹏，"一种基于光学散斑的加密人脸识别方法与系统"，中国国家知识产权局，专利号ZL202111273688.7，授权公告号CN114117514B（专利申请日2021年10月29日，授权公告日2022年9月13日）
  3. 赖溥祥，孙雷，仲天庭，丘志海，"一种光遗传学实验方法与系统"，中国国家知识产权局，专利号ZL 2019 1 1184827.1，授权公告号CN 112842604 B（专利申请日2019年11月27日，授权公告日2022年12月6日）
  4. Puxiang Lai, Lei Sun, Tian Zhong, and Zhihai Qiu, "Method and system for optogenetics experiments", US Patent No. 11,633,620B2 (granted on April 25, 2023)
  5. 赖溥祥，仲天庭，胡子敏，用于活体组织细胞的调控系统及方法，中国专利，申请号202410381387.3 (2024)
  6. Puxiang Lai, Tianting Zhong, and Chi Man Woo, System And Method for Regulating Living Tissue Cell， US Patent, Application No. 18/760,667 (2024)
  7. Puxiang Lai, Tianting Zhong, Shengfu Cheng, and Chi Man Woo, Method And Apparatus For High-fidelity Lensless Multimode Fiber-based Photoacoustic Endomicroscopy, US Patent, Application No. 18/759,180 (2024)
  8. Lihong V. Wang, Lidai Wang, Chi Zhang, Puxiang Lai, and Jian Wei Tay, "Systems and Methods of Grueneisen-Relaxation Photoacoustic Microscopy and Photoacoustic Wavefront Shaping", International Patent Number WO 2015/077355 A1/ US Patent No. 20160305914A1 (2016)

PhD students (in Biomedical Engineering)

Graduated:

  1. Huanhao Li, 09/2016-02/2021, as chief supervisor
  2. Fei Cao, 09/2016-06/2021, as co-supervisor
  3. Zhipeng Yu, 09/2018-06/2021, as chief supervisor
  4. Yingying Zhou, 09/2017-08/2021, as chief supervisor
  5. Tianting Zhong, 09/2018-09/2022, as chief supervisor
  6. Xiazi Huang, 01/2019-05/2023, as chief supervisor
  7. Shengfu Cheng, 09/2019-07/2024, as chief supervisor
  8. Qi Zhao, 09/2020-10/2024, as chief supervisor
  9. Chi Man Woo, 09/2021-08/2025 (expected), as chief supervisor
  10. Weiran Pang, 09/2021-08/2025 (expected), as chief supervisor
  11. Jing Yao, 09/2021-08/2025 (expected), as chief supervisor

Ongoing:

  1. Haofan Huang, 09/2022-TBD, as chief supervisor
  2. Haoran Li, 09/2022-TBD, as chief supervisor
  3. Wenzhao Li, 09/2022-TBD, as chief supervisor
  4. Chuqi Yuan, 09/2023-TBD, as chief supervisor
  5. Zhiyuan Wang, 09/2024-TBD, as chief supervisor
  6. Kai Chen, 09/2024-TBD, as chief supervisor
  7. Weibin Cai, 09/2024-TBD, as chief supervisor
  8. Xiaozhou Xiao, 09/2024-TBD, as chief supervisor
  9. Yuzhen Li, 09/2024-TBD, as chief supervisor
  10. Xian Hu, 05/2025-TBD, as chief supervisor
  11. Siyang Zheng, 09/2025-TBD, as chief supervisor 
  12. Qian Ding, 09/2025-TBD, as chief supervisor
  13. Jie Yang, 09/2025-TBD, as chief supervisor

 

MPhil students (in Biomedical Engineering)

  1. Yuchen Song, defensed on 11/2021, as chief supervisor
  2. Yuandong Zheng, 09/2022-08/2025 (expected), as chief supervisor

 

MSc students (in Biomedical Engineering)

  1. Tianting Zhong, graduated in August 2017, as chief supervisor
  2. Sizhou Guo, graduated in August 2019, as chief supervisor
  3. Lingwei Lyu, graduated in August 2017, as chief supervisor
  4. Jiahao Li, graduated in January 2024, as chief supervisor
  5. Tianze Xie, graduated in June 2024, as chief supervisor

Esteem Measures

Selected Awards

    • Best Paper Award, The Innovation Conference 2025, July 11-13, 2025
    • “2024中国光学十大进展”提名奖（应用研究类）, 中国激光杂志社, January 21, 2025
    • Research Grant Achievement Award (2023), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Faculty of Engineering, December 31, 2024
    • 2024 Outstanding Reviewer, Optica Publishing Group, July 16, 2024
    • 2023年度优秀编委，Visual Computing for Industry, Biomedicine, and Art, February 2024
    • Outstanding Young Researcher (for Research and Scholarly Activities) (2023), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Faculty of Engineering, August 2023
    • Research Grant Achievement Award (2021), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Faculty of Engineering, March 2023
    • 中國圖學學會第七屆理事會優秀學會工作者獎，中國圖學學會，July 4, 2021
    • The Faculty Merit Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Faculty of Engineering, August 2020
    • K.C. Wong Belt and Road Visiting Fellowship Scheme, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, December 2019
    • Research Grant Achievement Award (2016), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Faculty of Engineering, March 2018 
    • Hong Kong RGC Early Career Award, October 2016
    • 12th National 1000 Talent Plan Youth Scholar, National Natural Science Foundation of China, January 2016

Journal Editorship

    • Editorial Board Member, PhotoniX: Life, since 2024
    • Editorial Board Member, Scientific Reports, since 2024
    • Associate Editor, Advanced Imaging, since 2023
    • Academic Editor, The Innovation Medicine, since 2023
    • Editor, Advanced Photonics Nexus, since 2022
    • Academic Editor, The Innovation (IF=32.1), since 2021
    • Topic Editor, Medicine in Novel Technology and Devices (MEDNTD), since 2020
    • Associate Editor, Journal of Visual Computing for Industry, Biomedicine, and Art (VCIBA), since 2019
    • Editor, Journal of Innovative Optics in Health and Science (JIOHS), since 2018

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