News

New ULS equipment - Bio Molecular Systems Myra Liquid Handling System

The University Research Facility in Life Sciences (ULS) is pleased to announce that the Bio Molecular Systems Myra Liquid Handling System is now available for booking. The Bio Molecular Systems Myra Liquid Handling System is a compact, automated liquid handler designed for precision molecular biology workflows. It consists of an automatic pipette head, an integrated camera, and control software to allow high precision, consistent and automatic repeatable pipetting with minimal setup. It simplifies tedious low-volume pipetting tasks and saves time by repeatable automation. Automatic set up of a 384-well qPCR plate with samples and master mix takes less than 30 minutes. For training session or other enquiries, please contact Dr. Ryan Chow.  Thank you for your attention.

New ULS equipment - The Lonza 4D-Nucleofector System

This system combines the 4D-Nucleofector Core Unit with the versatile X Unit to deliver advanced non-viral transfection for a broad range of cell types, including hard-to-transfect primary cells, stem cells, and cell lines. The system delivers substrates directly into the cytoplasm and cell nucleus, achieving high transfection efficiency alongside excellent cell viability. The system supports various substrates, including plasmid DNA, mRNA, siRNA, peptides, and CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes. The X Unit accommodates flexible throughput and cell volumes using two formats: standard 100 µL single Nucleocuvettes (for medium-to-high cell numbers, up to 2 × 10⁷ cells) and 16-well Nucleocuvette strips (20 µL format for low cell numbers, ideal for multiple conditions and optimization). The Core Unit features an intuitive touchscreen interface loaded with pre-optimized, validated protocols for hundreds of cell types.   For training sessions or other enquiries, please contact Dr. Alan Leung or Dr. Ryan Chow. Thank you for your attention.

New ULS equipment - Exodus H-600 Automatic Extracellular Vesicles Isolation System

The University Research Facility in Life Sciences (ULS) is pleased to announce that the Exodus H-600 Automatic Extracellular Vesicles Isolation System is now available for booking.   This system combines Negative Pressure Oscillation (NPO) and double-coupled ultrasonic Harmonic Oscillations (HO) within a specialized nanoporous chip to allow high-throughput and rapid extraction of intact EVs and exosomes with excellent yield and purity from diverse biological samples. It requires only standard PBS buffer and eliminates the need for ultracentrifugation, chemical precipitation, or antibody-based magnetic beads, so that the natural structure and biological activity of the exosomes can be completely preserved.   For training session or other enquiries, please contact Dr. Ryan Chow or Dr. Shuqi Zhang.    Thank you for your attention.

ULS demo workshop and seminar-Precision 4D morphological imaging for label-free High-Content Analysis

The University Research Facility in Life Sciences (ULS) is co-organizing an online seminar and equipment demonstration on label-free high-content analysis with PTC and Pellucid Optics. You are cordially invited to attend the online seminar and the subsequent equipment demonstration.   In this talk, the advancement of scattering-based label-free optical tomography will be presented. Prof. Shi will outline newly engineered label-free imaging tools featuring exceptional spatiotemporal precision, their versatile capability for super-resolved visualization of living samples, alongside cutting-edge advances in AI-driven high-content analytics tailored for fine-scale morphological datasets.   The details of the upcoming events are as follows: Title: Precision 4D morphological imaging for label-free High-Content Analysis Speaker: Prof. Kebin Shi (Institute of Modern Optics, School of Physics, Peking University) Online Talk Date & Time: 27 October 2026, 2:00 PM Online Talk Platform: VooV meeting ID: 925-841-028   Demo Dates: 2-12 November 2026 Demo Venue: Y205 Please contact Dr. Shuqi Zhang (shuqi.zhang@polyu.edu.hk) to arrange sample testing.   Should you have any enquiries, please contact Dr. Shuqi Zhang (shuqi.zhang@polyu.edu.hk) or Dr. Chenyin Wang (chenyin.wang@polyu.edu.hk).   All are welcome!

ULS Online Training: Microscopy Image Processing and Colocalization Analysis using SVI Huygens Professional Software

Huygens Professional Image Analysis Software has been purchased and installed by ULS and is now available for free use in Room Y401 after reservation through the URFMS online booking system. It supports 2D and 3D microscopy image analysis and can be used for processing data acquired from all microscopes at ULS.   This online training and live demonstration will introduce practical workflows for quantitative fluorescence microscopy image processing, including deconvolution, image restoration, quality control, colocalization analysis, 3D visualization and batch workflow tips.   You are cordially invited to join this seminar organized by the University Research Facility in Life Sciences, with support from PTC International and SVI Huygens Professional. It is suitable for users working with fluorescence, confocal, widefield (Nikon Ti-2), 2D, 3D or multi-channel microscopy images.   Title: SVI Huygens Professional Software Online Training: Microscopy Image Processing & Colocalization Analysis   Date: 5 October 2026 (Monday) Time: 15:30-16:30 Speaker: Jasper van der Rijst, Scientific Consultant Online via Zoom Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87617101940?pwd=waaiOUipPr2nHDa8Q8qbqPfUOGAy4G.1 Meeting ID: 876 1710 1940 Passcode: 196169   Should you have any enquiries, please contact Dr. Shuqi Zhang or Dr. Chenyin Wang.   All are welcome!

Highlights of ULS Seminar - The Real Time, Live, Single-Cell Revolution

The ULS and RAYME organized the seminar - The Real Time, Live, Single-Cell Revolution - on 17th September, 2026. Here are some highlights of the seminar. Thank you very much for your participation.

Visit by Prof Hang Hubert YIN

Prof. Hang Hubert YIN, University Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Executive Dean of the Institute for Advanced Study, Beijing Normal University, P. R. China, visited the Cryo-EM and Mass Spectrometry facility at the ULS on 11th September, 2026.

ULS Seminar - The Real Time, Live, Single-Cell Revolution

Traditional population-averaged cell analysis often masks critical heterogeneity and overlooks rare cellular phenotypes. To overcome these challenges, Rayme’s Real-Time Single-Cell Analytical Platform offers a ground-breaking leap forward in metabolic and dynamic cell research. Featuring real-time in situ probing, femtoliter-level micro-manipulation, and subcellular precision, this system allows researchers to directly explore live-cell metabolism without perturbing physiological states.   You are cordially invited to attend a seminar co-organized by the ULS and RAYME to discover how this revolutionary platform can unlock new possibilities in your research across cancer biology, immunology, drug discovery, and beyond.   Title: Real Time, Live, Single-Cell Revolution – Unlock the Cellular Metabolism of Life at the Single-Cell Level Date: 17 Sept 2026 (Thursday) Time: 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Speaker: Mr Shaodong LIU, Product Manager of RAYME Venus: U208   Please register here or via the QR code on the poster for the seminar Should you have any enquiries, please contact Dr. Idy Ho (idyht.ho@polyu.edu.hk) or Dr. Chenyin Wang (chenyin.wang@polyu.edu.hk).   All are welcome!

ULS Seminar - The New Era of Extracellular Vesicles: From Precision Isolation to Multiparameter Analysis

Exodus H-600 automatic extracellular vesicles isolation system will soon be installed at the ULS. It allows automatic and label-free isolation of intact exosomes with high quality and excellent yield from various biological fluids and sample volumes. This approach enables researchers to tackle the drawbacks faced by traditional methods like ultracentrifugation.   You are cordially invited to attend a seminar co-organized by the ULS and Cold Spring Biotech. Corp. on the Exodus automatic extracellular vesicles isolation system. They will also share some ideas for characterization of the isolated products.   Title: The New Era of Extracellular Vesicles: From Precision Isolation to Multiparameter Analysis   Date: 15 Sept 2026 (Tuesday)   Time: 10:00AM - 12:00PM   Speaker: Teng LIU (Application Specialist of Exodus Bio.) on Automated EV Isolation using Exodus Automatic Nanoparticles Isolation System   Xiaoqi LIU (Application Engineer of NanoFCM Inc.) on Comprehensive Characterization of Extracellular Vesicles by Flow NanoAnalyzer   Venue: Y715   Please register here or via the QR code on the poster for the seminar and instrument demonstration session held on 16th September 2026.   Should you have any enquiries, please contact Dr. Ryan Chow or Dr. Shuqi Zhang.   All are welcome!

Visit by summer research programme students

Non-local undergraduate and master’s students, who joined a summer research programme organized by Department of HTI, visited the mass spectrometry facility and the animal imaging centre of the ULS on 13th August 2026.