News & Stories

A cross-disciplinary team led by Prof. QU Jianan, Professor from the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering and Prof. Julie L. SEMMELHACK, Visiting Assistant Professor from the Division of Life Science at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has developed a powerful laser control technique. Functioning as a “smart dimmer”, it can selectively adjust the brightness of every pixel during laser scanning, and prevent unintended neural activation, thereby significantly enhancing the precision of all-optical brain manipulation and imaging. This innovation will drive research into brain disease mechanisms and facilitate small animal disease models for new drug development.

Boundless: What recent discovery has the HKUST research team made regarding the human enzyme DICER?Prof. Nguyen: Our discovery is genuinely groundbreaking. We found that the enzyme DICER, which is crucial for gene silencing, possesses a "dual-pocket" mechanism for measuring RNA. This is significant because it changes our understanding of how DICER interacts with RNA strands.Boundless: What exactly is “gene silencing”?Prof. Nguyen: Good question. Gene silencing means reducing or eliminating the expression of a specific gene. This process may occur naturally in cells or be induced artificially. Gene silencing is used to prevent the production of proteins from a targeted gene. This technique helps researchers study the function of a gene, investigate disease mechanisms, and develop gene-based therapies.

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, and genetic diseases. 

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) recently hosted an engaging dialogue featuring three Nobel Prize winners, drawing nearly 200 students, faculty members and guests on campus, and an additional 2,000 online viewers from sister institutions across Mainland China. The event highlighted HKUST’s dedication to fostering cross-disciplinary innovation, and bridging the local scientific community with global thought leaders. As part of the Hong Kong World Youth Science Conference and Xiang Jiang Nobel Forum this year, the event titled “Together with the Scientists – Nobel Laureates Visit HKUST” took place on April 14 in collaboration with the Hong Kong Alumni Association of Beijing Universities. The program showcased the groundbreaking insights from three distinguished laureates: 

A research team led by Prof. LIU Kai from the Division of Life Science and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has established an innovative intracranial pre-olivary pretectal nucleus (OPN) optic tract injury model (pre-OPN OTI), shedding light on crucial mechanisms of functional axonal rewiring following central nervous system injury.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is excited to kick off a prestigious three-day “Molecular Frontiers Symposium” at Shaw Auditorium on campus today. The high-level event showcases a lineup of internationally renowned scientists including four Nobel laureates, serving as a dynamic thought-leadership platform for exchanging ideas among brilliant and young minds. Around 40 leading molecular scientists, including Nobel laureates Prof. Stefan HELL, Sir Tim HUNT, Prof. K. Barry SHARPLESS, and Sir Gregory WINTER, will share their knowledge and insights spanning the latest development in genome editing, fluorescence microscopy and protein engineering in this inaugural symposium in Greater China entitled "Frontiers of New Knowledge in Science".  

A research team led by Prof. GUO Yusong, Associate Professor of the Division of Life Science at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), recently made a novel discovery related to the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19. The team identified new host factors that interact with the receptor binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to promote viral entry. This finding offers valuable mechanistic insights and potential therapeutic strategies against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

A research team at HKUST has outlined the high-resolution structure of a little-known virus, improving our understanding of viral infection, which could pave the way for more accurate predictions of climate change.