News

ULS Demo - CytoFLEX NANO Demo

The University Research Facility in Life Sciences (ULS) is co-organizing a workshop on CytoFLEX nano Flow Cytometer with Beckman Coulter Life Sciences. The demo unit of CytoFLEX nano Flow Cytometer is available in ULS in June. Interested participants are welcome to bring the samples to try the demo unit.    The CytoFLEX nano Flow Cytometer is a pivotal development in flow cytometry that allows users to analyze extracellular vesicles (EVs) at least as small as 40 nm* with ease while simultaneously offering up to 6 separate fluorescent channels of detection and 5 side scatter channels, to deliver full characterization and open additional avenues for your nanoparticle research.   The details of the demo are as follow:   Period: 8 Jun - 3 Jul 2026   Time: Please make reservation here or scan the QR code on poster   Remark: You may bring your own sample, or use the beads prepared by the specialist for the demo.    All are welcome! Thank you for your attention.

ULS Workshop – ImageXpress® HCS.ai High-Content Screening System from Molecular Devices

The University Research Facility in Life Sciences (ULS) is co-organizing a workshop on ImageXpress® HCS.ai High-Content Screening System with Molecular Devices. This workshop will be focused on the ultra-fast, multiplexed, and high-quality imaging across a vast range of high-throughput assay types.   The details of the upcoming workshop are as follow:   User demo: 1 June 2026 10:00 - 12:00   Hands-On Workshops: 1 – 5 June, 2026 (Please see registration link)   Venue: Y210   Click here for Registration   Brief introduction: Feature of the high-content screening system: · AgileOptix Confocal design · Industry leading camera (Hamamatsu ORCA- Fusion BT sCMOS) · Max 8 channel laser excitation · Water-immersion objective module · Intuitive MetaXpress Acquire software · Seamless integrated with AI analysis · Modular and upgradable platform · InCarta AI analysis software · AI segmentation, AI classification, and customizable steps · 2D, 3D, timelapse, multi-well, slide · 40% faster speed · 26% bigger FOV · Friendly for robotic integration   Should you have any enquiries, please contact Dr. Idy Ho (idyht.ho@polyu.edu.hk).   All are welcome!

ULS Seminar - Flexible Flow Cytometry and Intelligent Multicolor Panel Design

You are cordially invited to attend a seminar on the CytoFLEX Flow Cytometer and multicolor panel design:   Title: Flexible Flow Cytometry and Intelligent Multicolor Panel Design   Date: 26 May 2026 (Tuesday)   Time: 12:50 - 14:15 (Light lunch will be served on-site)   Speaker: Ms Susanna Li (Application Manager of Beckman Coulter Life Sciences) & Mr. Christopher Ngan (Field Application Scientist of Beckman Coulter Life Sciences)   Venue: Y303   Please refer to the attached poster for further information. Should you have any queries, please contact Dr. Rachel Li.   All are welcome!

Results for ULS Survey 2025

The University Research Facility in Life Sciences (ULS) has conducted surveys for users and PIs to evaluate the quality of service provided by the ULS in 2025. The surveys have ended last month and the reports are available via these links: Survey for Users, Survey for PIs. Note that in the last part of the reports you can find the ULS’s response to the respondents’ comments. On the other hand, 20 survey participants were randomly selected to each receive 2 hours of free equipment usage for their laboratories in May. The result has been announced on the ULS Facebook Page. If you have any queries about the survey, please do not hesitate to contact Dr Ryan Chow. Thank you for your attention.

ULS Demo Workshop - ZIRCON SC 3000 Label-Free Live-Cell Microscopy

The University Research Facility in Life Sciences (ULS), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, is pleased to hold a workshop including a seminar and hands‑on operation sessions on the ZIRCON SC 3000 Label-Free Live-Cell Microscopic Imaging System.   This system features label‑free native‑state live‑cell observation, long‑term time‑lapse multi‑site acquisition, multi‑channel fluorescence and intensity diffraction tomography (IDT) imaging with an XY resolution of 153 nm.   Seminar Details Title: New Technology Lecture - ZIRCON SC 3000 Label-Free Live-Cell Microscopic Imaging System Date: 21 April 2026 (Tuesday) Time: 11:00 - 12:00 Venue: Room Y715, Block Y Speaker: Dr. GONG Jie (Product Manager, Zircon)   Hands-On Operation Session Date: 21 April 2026 (Tuesday) Time: 14:00 - 15:00; 15:00 - 16:00 Venue: Room Y708, Block Y   Registration & Enquiries For trial registration, please scan the QR code or contact Dr. Shuqi Zhang (shuqi.zhang@polyu.edu.hk).   For general 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 seminar - Single-Cell Sequencing Made Simple

The University Research Facility in Life Sciences (ULS) is co-organizing a seminar on Single-Cell RNA Sequencing (scRNA-Seq) with Illumina. The seminar will focus on the new Illumina application of scRNA-Seq which integrates the innovative PIPseq™ technology into Illumina portfolio. Together with the empowered Partek™ Flow™ software, the new Illumina solution makes single-cell research an accessible and affordable solution for all.   The details of the seminar are as follow: Date: 27th March, 2026 (Friday) Time: 15:30 – 17:15 15:30 – 16:15: Single-Cell Sequencing Made Simple - New Illumina Solution for Every Lab Speaker: Ms Grace SONG, Senior Sales Specialist, Illumina Hong Kong 16:15 – 17:00: Empower single cell insights with Partek™ Flow™ Speaker: Dr Man RAO, Executive Sales Specialist, Bioinformatics, Illumina Greater China 17:00 – 17:15: Experience Sharing Venue: Y301   For enquiries, please contact Dr. Ryan CHOW (hoyin.chow@polyu.edu.hk) or Dr. Alan LEUNG (alan.sl.leung@polyu.edu.hk). All are welcome! Thank you for your attention.

ULS Online Demo - DeepSIM: A Lattice SIM super-resolution microscopy module

The University Research Facility in Life Sciences (ULS) is co-organizing an online demo on DeepSIM with Chinetek Scientific (China) Limited. This specialized structured illumination microscopy technique is ideal for research groups frequently capturing tissue images, particularly those in neuroscience and pathology related to the liver and kidneys. You are cordially invited to attend the online demo. The details of the upcoming demo are as follow: Date: 20 March 2026 (Friday) Time: 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm If you are interested in joining the online demo, please fill out this registration form: https://forms.office.com/r/WqTdKxLVNh?origin=lprLink The demo is filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Successful registrants will be notified by email before the online demo. For registration or enquiries, please contact Dr. Shuqi Zhang (shuqi.zhang@polyu.edu.hk). All are welcome! Thank you for your attention.

ULS Workshop - Exploring the STELLARIS 8 FALCON Confocal Platform from Leica

The University Research Facility in Life Sciences (ULS) is co-organizing a workshop on advanced confocal and functional imaging with Leica. This workshop will focus on the STELLARIS 8 FALCON, a next-generation platform that integrates high-speed lifetime imaging with a fully tunable white light laser to push the boundaries of conventional confocal microscopy. On-site imaging advice will be provided by Application Specialists from Leica Microsystems. Key Specifications: White Light Laser: Fully tunable excitation (405nm, 440–790nm) High-Sensitivity Detection: 5 detectors (HyD S, HyD X, and HyD R) for optimized photon counting FALCON & LIGHTNING: Fast lifetime imaging and super-resolution (120nm XY, 200nm Z) High-Speed Imaging: 22 mm FOV scanner with 10 ps temporal resolution Recommended Applications: Advanced Multiplexing: Precise excitation of multiple fluorophores with minimal crosstalk Functional Imaging:Monitor metabolic states, pH changes, and protein-protein interactions (FLIM-FRET) via TauSense and FALCON Deep Tissue with High Resolution: Perform high-resolution 3D imaging of thick specimens with LIGHTNING and specialized HyD detectors. The details of the upcoming workshop are as follow: Date and Time: 11 March, 2026 (3 sessions) 1. 2:30 pm – 3:30pm 2. 3:30 pm – 4:30pm 3. 4:30 pm – 5:30pm Venue: Y210 Note: Workshops are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. You are highly encouraged to bring your sample to the Demo sessions. For registration or enquiries, please contact Dr. Idy Ho (idyht.ho@polyu.edu.hk). All are welcome! Thank you for your attention.

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.