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

Unraveling Brain Tumors: New Insights into IDH-Mutant Astrocytoma

Diffuse glioma is a type of brain tumor that can vary significantly in behavior and response to treatment. Among them, isocitrate Dehydrogenase (IDH)-mutant astrocytoma represents a major subtype. These tumors are particularly aggressive and often recur after treatment. Understanding the different molecular subtypes of these tumors is crucial for improving patient management. In a recent...Read More

HKUST Bioengineer Prof. Angela WU Named 2025 Schmidt Polymath

Prof. Angela WU, Associate Professor in the Division of Life Science and the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), has been named a 2025 Schmidt Polymath, a prestigious recognition celebrating transformative research across disciplines. This year, eight outstanding scientists and engineers from universities worldwide...Read More

Mapping the Molecular Landscape of Grey Mouse Lemurs

Although researchers usually rely on mice for studies, grey mouse lemurs being primates, are closer to us on the evolutionary tree and provide insights into biology that truly matter to humans. Prof. Angela WU, associate professor in the Division of Life Science and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, collaborated with other researchers to map over 226,000 single cells from 27...Read More

HKUST Scientists Develop Innovative Technology to Identify cfRNA Modification Biomarkers for Early Cancer Detection

Professor Li-Sheng ZHANG, (Division of Life Science and Department of Chemistry, HKUST) and his research team  have recently made a significant breakthrough in cancer detection by introducing a new RNA modification method called LIME-seq (Low-Input Multiple Methylation Sequencing) which has been published in Nature Biotechnology. This innovative approach focuses on analyzing circulating free...Read More