HKUST researchers reveal the pathogenesis of a rare respiratory disease through super-resolution microscopy

Cilia are tiny and hair-like organelles extruding from the surface of most cell types, serving either sensory or motile functions. In the eyes, the photoreceptor cells possess sensory cilia that are important for vision. Motile cilia align along the surface of the respiratory tract and function in airway clearance of mucus and inhaled pathogens. Mutations in retinitis pigmentosa GTPase...Read More

Prof. ZHANG Lisheng’s Innovative Cancer Screening Project Secures Funding under the third round of the RAISe+ Scheme (2026)

The Innovation and Technology Commission of the HKSAR Government has recently announced the results of the third round of projects selected for funding under the Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One‑plus (RAISe+) Scheme. Congratulations to  Project Leader Prof. ZHANG Lisheng, (Assistant Professor in the Division of Life Science and the Department of Chemistry), whose project has been...Read More

Division of Life Science (LIFS) Research Teams Win Gold+ Awards at the 51st Geneva Inventions Expo

Research teams from the Division of Life Science (LIFS) at The University of Science and Technology (HKUST) achieved recognition at the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva (Geneva Inventions Expo). HKUST’s 62 participating teams won a total of 62 accolades–including 13 Gold Medals with Congratulations of the Jury, 20 Gold Medals, 20 Silver Medals, and 9 Bronze Medals....Read More

LIFS Alumni Homecoming 2026 – Event Highlights

More than 90 alumni from the Division returned to campus on 14 March 2026 to reconnect with fellow graduates and professors at the LIFS Alumni Homecoming 2026. The event started with a welcoming cocktail reception followed by a buffet lunch. Prof. Guojun BU, Head of Division, shared recent developments and achievements of LIFS, while Prof. Yung Hou WONG, Dean of Science, provided updates on...Read More

HKUST Researchers Achieve Breakthrough in RNA Silencing Mechanism

A research team from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has made a breakthrough discovery in understanding the molecular machinery of RNA silencing. The team uncovered how the human enzyme DICER achieves highly precise processing of microRNAs (miRNAs), advancing gene regulation research and offering new insights into the mechanisms underlying cancer, immune disorders,...Read More

LIFS Summer Recruitment Camp 2026 (6 July – 10 July 2026)

Division of Life Science LIFS Summer Recruitment Camp 2026 For 2027/28 Fall Postgraduate Admission 6 July 2026 – 10 July 2026 (5 days) Online Application Form Information Poster (Available in English and Simplified Chinese) The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) promotes...Read More

LIFS Summer Research Program 2026 (2 July – 6 August 2026)

Division of Life Science LIFS Summer Research Program 2026 Online Application Form Information Poster The Summer Research Program is designed for outstanding end-of-year 3 undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing research postgraduate study in the Division of Life Science at the...Read More

HKUST researchers have developed CRACI to pinpoint dihydrouridine, an abundant RNA modification

A team led by Prof. ZHANG Li‑Sheng (Division of Life Science & Department of Chemistry, HKUST) has developed Chemical Reduction Assisted Cytosine Incorporation sequencing (CRACI) — a sensitive method that quantitatively pinpoints dihydrouridine (D),  the most abundant tRNA modification at the single-base resolution. Small chemical marks on RNA—like D—can work like fine‑tuning structural...Read More

Professor ZHAI Yuanliang receives 2025/26 RGC CRF Collaborative Research Project Grant

Prof. ZHAI Yuanliang,  Associate Professor in the Division of Life Science (LIFS), has been awarded the Collaborative Research Project Grant (CRPG) under the Collaborative Research Fund (CRF) 2025/26. He was awarded HKD7.96 million for the project “Molecular Mechanisms of Replisome Coupling” in collaboration with The University of Hong Kong (HKU). Read More

HKUST Team Develops a Novel Vesicle-Based Method Advancing Membrane Protein Research

 Membrane proteins are crucial for numerous biological processes and serve as important drug targets. For decades, scientists have relied on detergents to extract membrane proteins from cell membranes for structural studies. While detergent-based approaches have significantly advanced our understanding of membrane protein structures, they present certain limitations, such as...Read More

HKUST Researchers Use Vesicle Proteomics to Reveal Novel Cargo Clients and Accessory Factors for AP-1 and AP-4

The secretory pathway in eukaryotic cells is crucial for maintaining cellular function and physiological activities, as it ensures the accurate transport of proteins to specific subcellular locations or for secretion outside the cell. A research team led by Prof. GUO Yusong from the Division of Life Science at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has been extensively...Read More

HKUST Scientists Reveal Critical Impacts of a Chinese Genetic Risk Factor in Alzheimer’s Disease

A landmark study conducted by The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has demonstrated that a genetic variant, TREM2 H157Y, significantly increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in individuals of ethnic Chinese descent. The research reveals that this variant confers a risk level comparable to that of the strongest known genetic risk factor for AD, APOE-ε4, and is...Read More