News

ULS Seminar - Discover Smart Digital Imaging with Nikon NIS-Elements

We are excited to announce our upcoming online seminar on Nikon NIS-Elements, the powerful digital imaging and analysis platform now available at ULS! This session will introduce you to the latest features and smart tools that can transform your fluorescence microscopy workflows—from image acquisition to advanced analysis. Why Attend? Discover how to streamline your imaging and analysis with the Jobs function and explore both conventional and GA3 analysis options. Get hands-on insights into the latest AI-powered tools such as denoise.ai and deconvolution functions, now accessible at ULS. Learn the unique strengths of Ti2-E Live-cell imaging system, AX R MP upright confocal/multiphoton + NSPARC, and N-SIM/N-STORM super-resolution systems accessible at the ULS, and how to choose the best for your research needs. See practical demonstrations and application examples to help you get the most out of your microscopy data.   Title: Smart Digital Imaging with Nikon NIS-Elements Date: Thursday, 5 February 2026 Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm (CT) Speaker: Ms Priscilla Ngai, Chinetek Scientific (China) Ltd. -CTS Platform: Microsoft Teams Meeting Link:  Click here to join the meeting Meeting ID: 932 171 389 864 0  Passcode: pq2Jx2 Whether you are new to digital imaging or looking to explore advanced analysis options, this session will provide valuable guidance and inspiration for your research. All are welcome! Should you have any enquiries, please contact Dr Idy Ho.  Don’t miss this opportunity to discover the full potential of Nikon NIS-Elements and elevate your imaging experiments! We look forward to seeing you online!

ULS Newsletter (14th Issue)

The 14th issue of the ULS newsletter has been issued. Please click here to view it online.   In this issue, we feature the new Beckman Coulter CytoFLEX spectral flow cytometer, and introduce this technique to support simultaneous high-parameter studies.   Thank you for your support.  

New ULS equipment - The CytoFLEX S Flow Cytometer with Mosaic 63 Spectral Detection Module

The University Research Facility in Life Sciences (ULS) is pleased to announce that the CytoFLEX S flow cytometer with Mosaic 63 Spectral Detection Module is now available for booking.   This system combines the conventional flow cytometer, the CytoFLEX S flow cytometer, and the spectral flow cytometer, the CytoFLEX Mosaic 63 Spectral Detection Module. It allows switching between true conventional and spectral modes. The CytoFLEX S conventional flow cytometer has 4 active lasers (405 nm, 488 nm, 561 nm, 638 nm) and 13 channels for fluorescence detection. The Mosaic 63 Spectral Detection Module enables spectral capabilities and offers 1 FSC channel, 4 SSC channels, and 58 fluorescent channels, for a total of 63 channels of detection. Both conventional and spectral modules offer superior fluorescence sensitivity for dim and complex multicolour staining and can detect nanoparticles as small as 80 nm.   For training session or other enquiries, please contact Dr. Rachel Li or Dr. Ryan Chow.    Thank you for your attention.

ULS/Huygens Workshop - Image Restoration by Huygens SVI-Deconvolution: Principles and Applications

The University Research Facility in Life Sciences (ULS) offers numerous image analysis, visualisation and deconvolution software to our fluorescence microscope users. We have already acquired the Huygens image analysis software, now available in Room Y401. To facilitate its effective use, we will be hosting an online training session focused on its applications.   Training Details: Title: Image Restoration by Huygens SVI-Deconvolution: Principles and Applications Speaker: Dr. Poppy Chen (Application Sales, PTC) Date & Time: Friday, December 12, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Zoom Meeting ID: 840 4605 0540 Passcode: 203574 Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84046050540?pwd=bJw6D8Nn627HMFAu8fwBveS3uVvUhp.1   Huygens is a powerful image processing and analysis platform widely used in microscopy. It is specifically designed for the deconvolution, restoration, and visualization of complex, multi-dimensional fluorescence microscopy images, including confocal, STED, and widefield datasets. Its advanced algorithms significantly enhance image resolution and contrast, enabling researchers to obtain more accurate and quantitative information from their data.   Should you have any enquiries, please contact Dr. Shuqi Zhang (shuqi.zhang@polyu.edu.hk).   All are welcome!

ULS Seminar - Harnessing In-Vivo Imaging for Drug Development and Disease Modeling

You are cordially invited to attend a seminar on IVIS imaging system:  "Harnessing in vivo Imaging for Drug Development and Disease Modeling" with details as follows:   Title: Harnessing in vivo Imaging for Drug Development and Disease Modeling Date: 15 Dec 2025 (Monday) Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Speaker: Dr. Zhou Hongbo (Product Manager of In-vivo Imaging in Revvity China) Venue: Y412    Should you have any enquiries, please contact Dr. Rachel Li.   All are welcome!

ULS seminar - MINFLUX and STED super-resolution microscopy

The University Research Facility in Life Sciences (ULS) is co-organizing a seminar on MINFLUX and STED super-resolution microscope with Abberior and PTC. In this talk, the principle of STED, the advancement of Abberior STED microscopy and the latest development in MINFLUX the world’s most powerful fluorescence microscope. Unique technologies in Abberior STED and their superiorities in applications will be presented.   You are cordially invited to attend a seminar. The details of the upcoming seminar are as follow:   Title: Abberior STED Super Resolution Microscopy: Technologies from its Inventors, Applications and Beyond Date: 19 November 2025 (Wednesday) Time: 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm Speaker: Dr. Xiaoyu Li (the APAC Manager of Abberior instruments GmbH) Venue: Y411, Block Y, PolyU   Should you have any enquiries, please contact Dr. Shuqi Zhang (shuqi.zhang@polyu.edu.hk) or Dr. Idy Ho (idyht.ho@polyu.edu.hk).   All are welcome!   Thank you for your attention.

ULS Training Session - CytoFLEX S flow cytometer with Mosaic 63 Spectral Detection Module

The CytoFLEX S Flow Cytometer with Mosaic 63 Spectral Detection Module has now been successfully installed at ULS. This system combines the conventional flow cytometer, the CytoFLEX S flow cytometer, and the spectral flow cytometer, the CytoFLEX Mosaic 63 Spectral Detection Module. It allows switching between true conventional and spectral modes. The CytoFLEX S conventional flow cytometer has 4 active lasers (405 nm, 488 nm, 561 nm, 638 nm) and 13 channels for fluorescence detection. The Mosaic 63 Spectral Detection Module enables spectral capabilities and offers 1 FSC channel, 4 SSC channels, and 58 fluorescent channels, for a total of 63 channels of detection. Both conventional and spectral modules offer superior fluorescence sensitivity for dim and complex multicolour staining and can detect nanoparticles as small as  80 nm*. Training sessions led by a specialist from Beckman Coulter will be arranged on the following dates: Spectral Detection Module Training: 13 November (Thu), 10:00–12:00 13 November (Thu), 14:30–16:30 Conventional Flow Cytometry Training: 14 November (Fri), 10:00–12:00 14 November (Fri), 14:30–16:30   Please register at https://polyu.hk/HSvGb to secure your place**. Emails will be sent to successful applicants.   If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Dr. Rachel Li (Email: rachel.ws.li@polyu.edu.hk; Tel: 3400 8056)   *Polystyrene when triggering on violet side scatter **Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. You may be assigned to a training session for one module or both modules, depending on availability.

ULS Seminar - Towards Market Gold Standard: Discover Next Level Precision in Nanoparticale Characterization with NanoFCM

You are cordially invited to attend a seminar on the Nano Particle Flow Analyzer NanoFCM. Details are as follows:   Title: Towards Market Gold Standard: Discover Next Level Precision in Nanoparticale Characterization with NanoFCM Date: 3 November 2025 (Monday) Time: 14:30 - 15:30 Speaker: Dr Maverick Lau (Technical Marketing Manager) Venue: Y412   Should you have any enquiries, please contact Dr. Ryan Chow.   All are welcome!

ULS Distinguished Lecture - Pushing the envelope of super-resolution microscopy for sustained live imaging of rapid subcellular processes

The University Research Facility in Life Sciences (ULS) is organising a Distinguished Lecture on Super-resolution Fluorescence Microscopy by Prof. LI Dong, xinghua chair professor, new cornerstone investigator at school of life science, Tsinghua University. Prof. Li pioneered the development of advanced imaging systems, including high numerical aperture total internal reflection structured illumination microscopy (TIRF SIM, Science 2015 grazing incidence SIM (GI SIM, Cell 2018), 3D-SIM, nonlinear SIM, high speed lattice light sheet microscopy, and 3D high spatiotemporal resolution biomechanics microscopy. Complementing these hardware innovations, Prof. Li’s group also developed cutting edge algorithmic tools, such as the deep Fourier channel attention network (Nat Methods 2021, 2025) and the rationalized deep learning (rDL) architecture (Nat Biotech 2023, 2025). These advances enable the investigation of fragile and rapidly evolving subcellular bioprocesses with ultrahigh spatiotemporal resolution, facilitating unprecedented long term, multi colour imaging. In this lecture, Prof. Li will report their latest advances of how to synergize the developments in both optical front end and algorithmic back-end methodology to address these challenges and apply them to a wide variety of fragile and rapid evolving subcellular bioprocesses at ultra-high spatiotemporal resolution for unprecedented long time, multi-colour imaging. Details of the Distinguished Lecture are as follows: Date: 21 October, 2025 (Tuesday) Time: 3:00 pm to 4:15 pm Venue: Y716, Lee Shau Kee Building (Y Core), PolyU Lecture title: Pushing the envelope of super-resolution microscopy for sustained live imaging of rapid subcellular processes Online registration: https://forms.office.com/r/kqRDhLV3NJ   Should you have any enquiries, please contact Dr. Shuqi Zhang (Tel.: 3400 8923, shuqi.zhang@polyu.edu.hk) or Dr. Idy Ho (Tel.: 34008985, idyht.ho@polyu.edu.hk).

ULS Seminar - Abberior STED Super-resolution made simple and beautiful

The University Research Facility in Life Sciences (ULS) is co-organizing a seminar on stimulated emission depletion (STED) super-resolution microscope with Abberior and PTC. In this talk, the principle of STED and the advantages of STED over confocal imaging will be introduced. Unique technologies in Abberior STED and their superiorities in applications will be presented. You are cordially invited to attend a seminar on the STED super-resolution microscope. The details of the upcoming seminar are as follow:   Title: Abberior STED Super-resolution made simple and beautiful Date: 9 Oct 2025 (Thursday) Time: 10:30 am – 11:30 am Speaker:  Dr. Chi Leung SO (Business Development Manager, PTC) Venue: Y411, Block Y, PolyU   Should you have any enquiries, please contact Dr. Shuqi Zhang (shuqi.zhang@polyu.edu.hk) or Dr. Idy Ho (idyht.ho@polyu.edu.hk).   All are welcome!   Thank you for your attention.   University Research Facility in Life Sciences The Hong Kong Polytechnic University