Leading-Edge Research and Development > Research Profiles > Profiles Archive > CNSE professor leads pioneering cancer research initiative

Dr. Yubing Xie is working to transform the way cancer research is undertaken, while also inspiring future scientists to explore the vast potential of nanobioscience.

Dr. Yubing Xie discusses her research with CNSE graduate student Waseem Khan Raja.

Dr. Xie, an assistant professor of nanobioscience at the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE), is being supported in part by a $400,000 grant through the National Science Foundation's Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) program. This prestigious grant is awarded to junior faculty who exemplify the role of scholar-teacher through outstanding research, excellent education, and the integration of education and research within the context of the strategic mission of their organizations.

The development of disease therapeutics takes time, research and dedication. A critical first step toward creation of a disease treatment is to understand how a disease affects a person's body. Dr. Xie is devoting her research program to understanding how cancer cells react in a person's body, using the nanofabrication tools in her lab to create a microenvironment for studying the metastasis of breast cancer cells.

To Dr. Xie, this microenvironment is a vital step toward cancer detection and treatment, providing the ability to replicate what happens when a cancer cell comes into contact with a healthy cell. By studying that microenvironment, Dr. Xie and her research team are seeking a greater understanding - and subsequently, the ability to control - the interactions between cancer cells and neighboring cells. Similarly, Dr. Xie is interested in creating a 3D tumor model.

"Cells in our bodies are in a 3-D environment, so a microenvironment that imitates the interactions of cells through a 3-D tumor model will enable us to bridge the gap between the 2-D and animal models we are currently using," says Dr. Xie. "The 3-D model and microenvironment will allow my research team to test different therapeutics and cancer detection methods."

In addition to Dr. Xie's groundbreaking research involving cell-to-cell interactions, she is working to engage students of all ages to become involved in her programs.

"My vision is to involve graduate, undergraduate and high school students in my research," says Dr. Xie. "By engaging students in cutting-edge research at a young age, I hope to encourage future scientists to become involved in, and excited about, nanobioscience and nanobiotechnology."

Utilizing the world-class facilities at CNSE's Albany NanoTech Complex, the support of the National Science Foundation, and the pioneering efforts of her research team, Dr. Xie's work could go a long way to improving the lives of people around the world.