Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU)’s College of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS) recently presented a talk by Dr. Zhongwen Chen from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), highlighting the discovery of how molecular systems affect function in living cells in the broad context of cancer metastasis and viral infections.

His talk focused on the results of a collaborative study that included HBKU, represented by Dr. Kabir H. Biswas, Assistant Professor at the Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS); researchers from the University of California, Berkeley; Stanford; University of Texas; National University of Singapore; and Fudan University, China, where Dr. Chen is an Assistant Professor. He is also the Principal Investigator at the Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry at CAS - home to over 80% of China’s large-scale science facilities. 

Dr. Hend Mansoor, Assistant Professor at CHLS, moderated the seminar, which attracted an international audience of scientists, senior HBKU faculty, graduate students and researchers. 

Dr. Chen’s presentation illustrated how single-molecule imaging uncovers the way in which molecular systems affect function in living cells by capturing transient intermediates and heterogeneous behavior at the molecular level and in real time. A hybrid live cell-supported lipid bilayer, developed over the past few years, allows for manipulating and imaging receptor signaling with high spatial-temporal resolution. The findings could be utilized in the screening of pharmacological agents to target diseases that involve clustering-dependent receptor signaling. 

“This study and its results presented by Dr. Chen illustrate the kind of high-impact scientific research being achieved through international collaborations. It’s an approach we value and aim to sustain at CHLS, as it gives our academic community access to leading expertise, enhances our interdisciplinary work, and helps to advance innovation,” said Professor Dindial Ramotar, Head of the BBS division at CHLS.

The seminar formed part of CHLS’ commitment to pursuing high-impact research and providing essential educational and research training, which includes developing important capacities at the cutting edge of biomedical sciences and precision medicine. Its multidisciplinary graduate programs are currently open for enrollment.