Qiu Ruoyi, Distinguished Associate Professor at the Institute of Cell and Gene Technology, Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology, holds a Ph.D. in Physics. He received his B.S. in Optical Information Science and Technology from Sun Yat-sen University, his Ph.D. in Physics from North Carolina State University (USA), and subsequently conducted postdoctoral research and served as a Research Scientist at School of Medicine, Stanford University (USA). He has extensive experience in the development of single-molecule biophysical techniques and their biomedical applications, with a focus on fundamental mechanisms of key biological processes, including calcium signaling, DNA repair, and G protein-coupled receptors. In recent years, he has published 15 papers in internationally renowned journals such asPNAS,EMBO Journal,JACS, andNature Methods.

Dr. Qiu is dedicated to the development of single-molecule fluorescence imaging and analytical methods, integrating biochemistry, cell biology, structural biology, and computational simulation to investigate the dynamic mechanisms of biomolecular machines. His research group also explores applications of single-molecule technologies in disease diagnostics, developing ultra-sensitive detection platforms for biomarkers such as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and microRNA, providing new technological approaches for early disease diagnosis and precision medicine.

2003.09–2007.06, B.S. in Optical Information Science and Technology, Sun Yat-sen University

2007.08–2012.12, Ph.D. in Physics, North Carolina State University (USA)

2013.01–2014.12, Postdoctoral Researcher, North Carolina State University (USA)

2015.01–2018.12, Postdoctoral Researcher, Stanford University (USA)

2019.01–2026.02, Research Scientist, Stanford University (USA)

2026.06–Present, Distinguished Associate Professor, Institute of Cell and Gene Technology, Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology

(1) Dynamic Mechanisms of Biomolecular Machines

The group investigates dynamic molecular mechanisms underlying cellular signaling and DNA repair using single-molecule fluorescence imaging, biochemistry, structural biology, and computational simulation. Current research focuses on store-operated calcium entry (SOCE), DNA mismatch repair, and G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), as well as other protein and nucleic acid systems of biological and medical significance.

(2) Development of Biotechnology Based on Molecular Mechanisms

This direction aims to translate fundamental mechanistic insights into novel biotechnologies and research tools. By elucidating protein dynamics and regulatory mechanisms, the group develops technologies for precise control of cellular processes, disease detection, and biomedical research. Examples include optogenetic tools based on calcium signaling and high-sensitivity mutation detection strategies based on DNA mismatch repair mechanisms, promoting the translation of basic research findings into practical applications.

(3) Application of Single-Molecule Technologies in Disease Diagnostics

The group develops ultra-sensitive molecular diagnostic technologies based on single-molecule detection, enabling detection of disease-related biomarkers such as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and microRNA, and advancing early diagnosis and precision medicine.

Representative Papers:

1.R Qiu, RS Lewis. Structural rearrangements underlying the activation of STIM1 by ER calcium depletion. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. (accepted)

2.R Qiu, RS Lewis. Multiple weak brakes act in concert to control STIM1 and store-operated calcium entry.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.2025,122(50): e2518622122.

Selected for commentary in PNAS (“Listening to the quiescence of single STIM1 dimers”, P.G. Hogan)

3.R Qiu, RS Lewis. Structural features of STIM and Orai underlying store-operated calcium entry. Current Opinion in Cell Biology. 2019, 57: 90-98.

4.S van Dorp,R Qiu, UB Choi, MM Wu, M Yen, M Kirmiz, A T Brunger, R S Lewis. Conformational dynamics of auto-inhibition in the ER calcium sensor STIM1. eLife. 2021, 10: e66194.

5.J Xu#,R Qiu#, AM Garces, H Hübner, X Xu, C Hao, D Weikert, P Gmeiner, AT Brunger. The role of intrinsically disordered domains in regulating G protein-coupled receptor signaling. Journal of the American Chemical Society. 2026.

6.R Qiu, VC DeRocco, C Harris, A Sharma, MM Hingorani, DA Erie, KR Weninger.Large conformational changes in MutS during DNA scanning, mismatch recognition and repair signalling. The EMBO Journal. 2012, 31(11): 2528-2540.

7.R Qiu, M Sakato, E J Sacho, H Wilkins, X Zhang, P Modrich, MM Hingorani, KR Weninger, DA Erie.MutL traps MutS at a DNA mismatch. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2015, 112(35): 10914-10919.

8.Y Cao#, H Chen#,R Qiu, M Hanna, E Ma, M Hjort, A Zhang, RS Lewis, JC Wu, NA Melosh. Universal intracellular biomolecule delivery with precise dosage control. Science Advances. 2018, 4(10): eaat8131.

9.Y Cao#, E Ma#, S Cestellos-Blanco, B Zhang,R Qiu, Y Su, JA Doudna, P Yang. Nontoxic nanopore electroporation for effective intracellular delivery of biological macromolecules. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2019, 116(16): 7899-7904.

10.K Rajagopalan#,R Qiu#, S M Mooney, S Rao, T Shiraishi, E Sacho, H Huang, E Shapiro, K R Weninger, P Kulkarni. Cancer/testis antigen PAGE4, a regulator of c-Jun transactivation, is phosphorylated by homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 1, a component of the stress-response pathway. Biochemistry. 2014, 53(10): 1670-1679.

11.SM Mooney,R Qiu, JJ Kim, EJ Sacho, K Rajagopalan, D Johng, T Shiraishi, P Kulkarni, KR Weninger. Cancer/testis antigen PAGE4, a regulator of c-Jun transactivation, is phosphorylated by homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 1, a component of the stress-response pathway. Biochemistry. 2014, 53(10): 1670-1679.

12.B Hellenkamp#, S Schmid#, O Doroshenko, O Opanasyuk, R Kühnemuth, S Rezaei Adariani, B Ambrose, M Aznauryan, A Barth, V Birkedal, ME Bowen, H Chen, T Cordes, T Eilert, C Gebhardt, M Götz, G Gouridis, E Gratton, T Ha, P Hao, CA Hanke, A Hartmann, J Hendrix, LH Hildebrandt, V Hirschfeld, J Hohlbein, B Hua, CG Hübner, E Kallis, AN Kapanidis, J-Y Kim, G Krainer, DC Lamb, NK Lee, EA Lemke, B Levesque, M Levitus, JJ McCann, N Naredi-Rainer, D Nettels, T Ngo,R Qiu, N C Robb, C Röcker, H Sanabria, M Schlierf, T Schröder, B Schuler, H Seidel, L Streit, J Thurn, P Tinnefeld, S Tyagi, N Vandenberk, AM Vera, KR Weninger, B Wünsch, IS Yanez-Orozco, J Michaelis, CAM Seidel, TD Craggs, T Hugel. Precision and accuracy of single-molecule FRET measurements—a multi-laboratory benchmark study. Nature Methods. 2018, 15(9): 669-676.