Visitors Talk: Qunxiang Ong, A*STAR, Singapore

Abstract

Metabolic imaging has entered an exciting era with the advent of hyperpolarized magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), which amplifies nuclear spin polarization to enhance signal sensitivity by more than 10,000-fold. This breakthrough enables real-time visualization of biochemical reactions in living systems with unprecedented temporal and spatial resolution. In this talk, I will discuss the design and development of novel hyperpolarizable probes, focusing on molecular engineering strategies that extend beyond conventional substrates like [1-13C]pyruvate. I will highlight recent advances from our lab, including a new class of 13C-labeled amino acid probes capable of tracking transamination flux and redox states in cancer and liver disease. Beyond probe chemistry, I will discuss the roadmap where we work on emerging biological applications that taps on hyperpolarized imaging to provide mechanistic insight—ranging from tumor metabolism to neurochemical dynamics and therapeutic response assessment. Together, these innovations chart a path toward more personalized and mechanism-driven diagnostics, bridging molecular biology and clinical imaging through hyperpolarization technology.

About the speaker

Dr. Qunxiang Ong is a Senior Scientist at the Institute of Molecular & Cell Biology (IMCB), part of A*STAR in Singapore, where he leads the MRI platform and probe-development efforts. He works at the crossroads of chemistry, molecular imaging, and biological signaling, pushing the boundaries of what molecular probes and imaging modalities can reveal in living systems.
He obtained his PhD in Organic Chemistry / Chemical Biology from Stanford University in 2018, where his work involved advanced optogenetic tool development (in the lab of Prof. Bianxiao Cui). Over the course of his career, Dr. Ong has published on the development of optogenetic probes, post-translational signaling (e.g. studies of O-GlcNAc dynamics), metabolic sensing, and imaging tool innovation.
Today, he will share his latest advances and perspectives in hyperpolarizable probe development and their biological applications — a topic that integrates his expertise in chemical tool design, imaging physics, and biological insight.