The Biophysics Group at IFIRSE focuses on understanding the fundamental mechanical and structural principles of biological macromolecules and systems. By employing cutting-edge techniques such as High-Speed Atomic Force Microscopy (HS-AFM), molecular dynamics simulations, and advanced biochemical methods, we aim to visualize and quantify the dynamic processes that drive cellular life. Our work bridges the gap between physics, chemistry, and biology to answer key questions about protein function, molecular motion, and disease mechanisms.

About the Group Leader

Assist. Prof. Kien Xuan Ngo is a biochemist and biophysicist with expertise in High-Speed Atomic Force Microscopy (HS-AFM) and structural biology. He obtained his Master's and Ph.D. from Osaka University, Japan, supported by the Vietnamese Government and the highly competitive JSPS DC1 scholarship. After a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Geneva (Switzerland) and a research scientist position at RIKEN (Japan), he joined the WPI-Nano Life Science Institute (NanoLSI) at Kanazawa University in 2018, where he currently leads a research group. His research focuses on the dynamic functions of cytoskeletal proteins (such as actin and microtubules) and ABC transporters, employing a combination of biochemistry, biophysics, and mathematical simulations to address pressing problems in modern biology.

Research Directions

Group Members

Selected Publications

• Kien Xuan Ngo, Takashi Sumikama, Rémi Vuillemot, et al. (2025). "Atomic Conformational Dynamics and Actin-Crosslinking Function of Alpha-Actinin Revealed by SimHS-AFMfit." bioRxiv.
• Kien Xuan Ngo, et al. (2025). "Imaging oligomers of alpha-toxin (Hla) variants using high-speed AFM and neutralizing Hla hemolytic activity with their antisera." Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 768, 110403.
• Thuyen Vinh Tran Nguyen, Ngoc Quoc Ly, Ngan Thi Phuong Le, Hoang Duc Nguyen, Kien Xuan Ngo. (2025). "AFManoSALQ: An Accurate Detection Framework for Semi-Automatic Labeling and Quantitative Analysis of α-Hemolysin Nanopores Using Intensity-Height Cues in HS-AFM Data." bioRxiv.
• Taro Q. P. Uyeda, Yosuke Yamazaki, Saku T. Kijima, Taro Q. P. Noguchi, Kien Xuan Ngo. (2025). "Multiple Mechanisms to Regulate Actin Functions: 'Fundamental' Versus Lineage-Specific Mechanisms and Hierarchical Relationships." Biomolecules, 15(2), 279.
• T. Ando, S. Fukuda, K. X. Ngo, H. Flechsig. (2023). "High-Speed Atomic Force Microscopy for Filming Protein Molecules in Dynamic Action." Annual Review of Biophysics, 53, 19-39.

International Collaborations & Networks

The Biophysics Group actively collaborates with a global network of leading research institutions:

• WPI-Nano Life Science Institute (NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, Japan: Core collaboration on HS-AFM technology and its applications.
• AIST (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology), Japan
• RIKEN, Japan
• University of Geneva, Switzerland
• University of Science, VNU-HCM, Vietnam
• Viet Nam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Education, Outreach & Community Building

Dr. Ngo Xuan Kien is deeply committed to fostering the biophysics community in Vietnam. He serves as a Vice President of the Vietnamese Biophysical Society (VBS) for the 2025-2028 term, playing a key role in advancing the development and international integration of the biophysics community in Vietnam. The group actively organizes and participates in international symposia, including the NanoBioCoM (Nano Biotechnology, Biophysics, Computation) workshops at ICISE, to promote research and training in this interdisciplinary field. We also host students and interns from universities across Vietnam.

Join Us

We welcome students and researchers from physics, chemistry, biology, and related fields who are passionate about exploring the physical principles of life. Opportunities are available for undergraduate internships, Master's and PhD research, and postdoctoral fellowships. If you are interested, please contact us for more information.

➡️ For more details about the group leader's research and publications, visit: Assist. Prof. Ngo Xuan Kien (Researchmap)