A recent Nature Magazine feature, "Four Rising Stars at the Forefront of Cancer Research," has recognized Dr. Ziwan Xu, an alumna of the University of Chicago's Department of Chemistry, for her significant contributions to contemporary cancer research. The article highlights Xu's output, noting her as "among the most prolific young researchers for cancer-related output in the Nature Index” and suggests advances developed through her research "could become powerful new weapons in the arsenal used to fight cancer."
It was during her doctoral work in the Wenbin Lab that Xu investigated thorium's potential in cancer treatment. Utilizing Monte Carlo simulation, which estimates probabilities in complex systems through repeated random sampling, she designed a radiosensitizer that significantly inhibited the growth of colon and pancreatic tumors in mice undergoing radiotherapy, demonstrating the ingenuity of her interdisciplinary approach.
Xu’s research at the University of Chicago eventually brought her to leading pharmaceutical firm Merck, where she currently focuses on the complex task of formulating injectable cancer drugs designed for sustained release within the body.
Dr. Ziwan Xu's progression from UChicago's laboratories to her recognition as a rising star reflects the significant influence of the Chemistry department’s dedication to scientific rigor and the formative mentorship provided within research environments such as the Wenbin Lin Lab.