Zhen Xu Receives Stephen S. Attwood Excellence in Engineering Award

Zhen Xu, Li Ka Shing Endowed Professor of Biomedical Engineering, and Professor, Radiology and Neurosurgery, has been named the recipient of Michigan Engineering’s Stephen S. Attwood Excellence in Engineering Award. This award recognizes a faculty member whose extraordinary achievements in teaching, research, service, and other activities have brought distinction to the College and the University.

Prof. Xu is a trailblazer in both clinical innovation and academic leadership through her research in the discovery of histotripsy, here at U-M. As described in her nomination packet, “Prof. Xu is, simply put, an all-star,”—a fitting summary for a career defined by groundbreaking advances and tireless dedication. “She is tireless in her pursuit of research advances that range from studies of the underlying physical mechanisms to the biological and immune responses of treatment to the translation to numerous clinical applications. She has also been instrumental in the commercialization of histotripsy technology. Prof. Xu is a popular teacher and mentors a large group of graduate students. Over the years, she has served the department in numerous roles, including Associate Chair for Graduate Studies.”  

Central to Dr. Xu’s impact is her pioneering work as co-inventor and developer of histotripsy, a revolutionary non-invasive medical technology that uses precisely focused ultrasound waves to mechanically break down tissues. Over the past two decades, she has been the driving force behind this high-impact research program, securing its evolution from bench to bedside. In 2023, the FDA approved histotripsy for the non-invasive treatment of liver tumors. To date, 3,000 patients have been treated around the world.

Histotripsy stands to transform the future of medicine—from cancer treatments that avoid scalpels and chemotherapy, to novel therapies for neurological and cardiovascular disease. “Zhen is leading the effort to expand the patient population and diseases treatable by histotripsy,” noted a colleague in the award nomination packet, “and her work is defining new standards in clinical practice.”

Dr. Xu’s scholarship has earned international acclaim, including her recognition as a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, IEEE, and AIMBE, among many other honors. “Dr. Xu has exemplified the attributes of the Stephen S. Attwood Award through hard work, dedication, motivation, and service, all of which have culminated in one-of-a-kind clinical and academic impacts,” the nomination states.