Research

Single-cell Raman spectroscopy, AI-driven bioanalytics, infectious-disease diagnostics

What we build

The instruments, chemistries and computational methods the lab develops.

Single-Cell Raman Technologies

Raman-Activated Cell Sorting (RACS), Raman Stable Isotope Probing (Raman-SIP), label-free Raman imaging.

Selected papers
  1. 2024
    High-throughput single-cell sorting by stimulated Raman-activated cell ejection
    Zhang Jing, Lin Haonan, Xu Jiabao*, Zhang Meng, and 4 more · Science Advances · 2024
    DOI
  2. 2026
    Amino acid reprogramming and biofilm-specific tricarboxylate transporters in PET-degrading Piscinibacter sakaiensis
    Lim Hao Wei, Xu Jiabao†*, Koh Jonas, Cao Bin, and 1 more · Applied and Environmental Microbiology · 2026
    DOI
  3. 2026
    Raman spectroscopy reveals a novel mechanism by which Cyclin Y promotes breast cancer progression by regulating lipid metabolism
    Zhang Lingxian, Kong Deyu, Chen Gang, Xu Jiabao*, and 5 more · Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica · 2026
    DOI
  4. 2025
    Microwell-assembled aluminum substrates for enhanced single-cell analysis: A novel approach for cancer cell profiling by Raman spectroscopy
    Wang Yuntong, Qu Yue, Wang Huan, Xu Jiabao*, and 8 more · Talanta · 2025
    DOI
  5. 2020
    A single-cell Raman-based platform to identify developmental stages of human pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons
    Hsu Chia-Chen, Xu Jiabao†, Brinkhof Bas, Wang Hui, and 3 more · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 2020
    DOI

Artificial Intelligence and Data-Driven Bioanalytics

Machine learning and deep learning pipelines for disease classification, multimodal learning across Raman spectra, omics, images and clinical metadata, denoising autoencoders, explainable AI.

Selected papers
  1. 2026
    Machine learning-driven optimization of metabolic balance for β-carotene production
    Tu Weiming, Xu Jiabao*, Ma Yongshuo, Katsimpouras Constantinos, and 1 more · Metabolic Engineering · 2026
    DOI
  2. 2022
    High-Speed Diagnosis of Bacterial Pathogens at the Single Cell Level by Raman Microspectroscopy with Machine Learning Filters and Denoising Autoencoders
    Xu Jiabao, Yi Xiaofei, Jin Guilan, Peng Di, and 6 more · ACS Chemical Biology · 2022
    DOI
  3. 2023
    Artificial intelligence-aided rapid and accurate identification of clinical fungal infections by single-cell Raman spectroscopy
    Xu Jiabao, Luo Yanjun, Wang Jingkai, Tu Weiming, and 9 more · Frontiers in Microbiology · 2023
    DOI

What we work on

The biological and clinical questions we put those methods to.

Host-Pathogen Interactions and Infectious Disease

Single-cell pathogen and immune profiling, rapid pathogen identification, antimicrobial resistance profiling, culture-free diagnostics.

Selected papers
  1. 2026
    Rapid culture-free diagnosis of clinical pathogens via integrated microfluidic-Raman micro-spectroscopy
    Li Yuetao, Xu Jiabao†, Yi Xiaofei, Li Xiaobo, and 18 more · Nature Communications · 2026
    DOI
  2. 2020
    Fingerprinting Bacterial Metabolic Response to Erythromycin by Raman-Integrated Mid-Infrared Photothermal Microscopy
    Xu Jiabao, Li Xiaojie, Guo Zhongyue, Huang Wei E., and 1 more · Analytical Chemistry · 2020
    DOI
  3. 2019
    Single-Cell and Time-Resolved Profiling of Intracellular Salmonella Metabolism in Primary Human Cells
    Xu Jiabao, Preciado-Llanes Lorena, Aulicino Anna, Decker Christoph Martin, and 5 more · Analytical Chemistry · 2019
    DOI

Immune Cells for Disease Diagnostics

Raman-based PBMC profiling, label-free diagnostics for cancer, autoimmune disorders such as SLE and psoriatic arthritis, and chronic disease.

Selected papers
  1. 2024
    A metabolic map and artificial intelligence-aided identification of nasopharyngeal carcinoma via a single-cell Raman platform
    Xu Jiabao†, Chen Dayang, Wu Wei, Ji Xiang, and 6 more · British Journal of Cancer · 2024
    DOI
  2. 2023
    Developing a Blood Cell-Based Diagnostic Test for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Using Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells
    Xu Jiabao, Lodge Tiffany, Kingdon Caroline, Strong James W. L., and 6 more · Advanced Science · 2023
    DOI
  3. 2024
    Raman micro-spectroscopy as a tool to study immunometabolism
    Xu Jiabao*, Morten Karl J · Biochemical Society Transactions · 2024
    DOI

Synthetic Biology and Sustainable Biotechnology

Single-cell phenotyping of engineered microbes, metabolic engineering and promoter selection for bioproduction, engineered photosynthesis and CO2 fixation, whole-cell biosensors, and microbial routes to bioplastics and waste valorisation.

Selected papers
  1. 2026
    Machine learning-driven optimization of metabolic balance for β-carotene production
    Tu Weiming, Xu Jiabao*, Ma Yongshuo, Katsimpouras Constantinos, and 1 more · Metabolic Engineering · 2026
    DOI
  2. 2023
    Engineering artificial photosynthesis based on rhodopsin for CO2 fixation
    Tu Weiming, Xu Jiabao, Thompson Ian P., Huang Wei E. · Nature Communications · 2023
    DOI
  3. 2026
    Amino acid reprogramming and biofilm-specific tricarboxylate transporters in PET-degrading Piscinibacter sakaiensis
    Lim Hao Wei, Xu Jiabao†*, Koh Jonas, Cao Bin, and 1 more · Applied and Environmental Microbiology · 2026
    DOI
  4. 2026
    Promoter selection reduces phenotypic heterogeneity and improves bioproduction
    Patel Davina, Shabestary Kiyan, Xu Jiabao, Klemm Cinzia, and 2 more · Trends in Biotechnology · 2026
    DOI
  5. 2022
    Engineering a Rhodopsin-Based Photo-Electrosynthetic System in Bacteria for CO2 Fixation
    Davison Paul A., Tu Weiming, Xu Jiabao, Della Valle Simona, and 3 more · ACS Synthetic Biology · 2022
    DOI