Zhen Xu, PhD, the Li Ka Shing Endowed Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Michigan, was recently named to the TIME100 Health List and received the Sony Women in Technology Award with Nature.
Dr. Xu and her colleagues developed histotripsy, the first noninvasive, nonthermal ultrasound ablation technique to receive FDA approval for liver tumor treatment. Her work has led to multiple clinical trials on histotripsy treatment for malignant and benign tumors.
Her TIME100 Health profile highlights her role in co-founding HistoSonics, a company that commercialized focused ultrasound histotripsy for liver tumors and is testing the device for tumors in the kidneys and pancreas. HistoSonics was acquired in 2025, with investors valuing the company at $2.25 billion.
The Sony Women in Technology award recognizes exceptional early- to mid-career women researchers in technology who are driving a positive impact on society and the planet. The announcement notes, “Dr. Xu’s research in histotripsy addresses major global health challenges across cancer, neurology, and cardiovascular medicine.” Dr. Xu was one of three recipients of the award, which provides a $250,000 prize to support the recipients’ research endeavors.
Read the University of Michigan’s Press Release
Listen to Dr. Xu’s episode on the Foundation’s Curing with Sound Podcast from April 2025.