Detection, quantification, or localisation of particular cells or molecules – quickly, sensitively and accurately – is fundamental to many areas of modern biomedical research and industry.  My talk will showcase our research from developing both luminescent materials and photonic sensing techniques to integrated biomedical devices. In 2011, we first developed a low-cost time-gated chopper unit, compatible to any fluorescence microscopes, to realize background-free imaging of rare cells. In 2013, we have overcome the barrier of concentration quenching to address the brightness limitation of upconversion luminescence probes, and created the brightest nanocrystal for single molecule sensing. In 2014, we reported a new lifetime scanning technique and a library of luminescent probes with tunable microsecond lifetimes (t), offering significant advantages in high speed and high throughput sensing of multiple analytes in a single test (multiplexing). This year, we engineered an on-the-fly stage scanning method to achieve precise target pinpointing across the whole slide and a new super resolution nanoscopy technique for subcellular imaging applications.  This enables rare-event detection, quantification and visualization for the discovery of new biomarkers and development of diagnostic tests. We join force with our industry partners and spend a majority of our current efforts on developing standard protocols for robust particle coatings to maintain the active biomolecules for enhanced long-term performance. In parallel, we transform our device engineering techniques for the effective integration of commercially available equipment with these new photonic probes. A joint effort across a broad spectrum of disciplines via interdisciplinary, interdisciplinary and industry collaborations will have a major impact in quantitative luminescence measurements of low-abundance biomolecules and single cells for a broad range of diagnostics applications.