Xiaoliang Sunney Xie

Xiaoliang Sunney Xie
Born (1962-06-24) 24 June 1962 (age 64)
Beijing, China
EducationBSc in chemistry from Peking University
PhD in Physical Chemistry from UC San Diego
Known forSingle Molecule Enzymology,
Coherent Raman Imaging,
Single Cell Genomics
AwardsAlbany Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research 2015,
Peter Debye Award in Physical Chemistry 2015,
Ellis R. Lippincott Award 2013,
Biophysical Society Founders Award 2012
NAS 2011
NAM 2016
CAS 2017
Scientific career
FieldsBiophysical Chemistry,
Optical Imaging,
Genomics
WorkplacesHarvard University
Peking University
John Douglas Simon
Notable students
Will Greenleaf, Wei Min, Yunlong Cao

Xiaoliang Sunney Xie (Chinese: 谢晓亮; pinyin: Xiè Xiǎoliàng; born 24 June 1962) is a Chinese biophysicist well known for his contributions to the fields of single-molecule biophysical chemistry, coherent Raman Imaging and single-molecule genomics. He is the Director of Changping Laboratory, a newly established national scientific research institution in Beijing focused on life sciences innovation. He also serves as Lee Shau-kee Professor and Head of the Faculty of Sciences at Peking University.

In 2023, Xie renounced his U.S. citizenship in order to reclaim his Chinese citizenship.

Early life

Xie was born in Beijing in 1962 with ancestral roots in Hepu County, Guangxi. He received his B.Sc. in chemistry from Peking University in 1984, and his Ph.D. in physical chemistry in 1990 from University of California at San Diego. After a brief postdoctoral appointment at University of Chicago, he joined Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, where he rose from senior research scientist to chief scientist. In 1998, he became the first tenured professor recruited by Harvard University among Chinese scholars who came to the United States since the reform and opening up.

Research

He had been the Mallinckrodt Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Harvard University until 2018, when he became the Lee Shau-kee Professor of Peking University. He was the Director of Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC) in 2010–2021, and the Director of Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics (ICG) in 2016–2021, both at Peking University.

As a pioneer of single-molecule biophysical chemistry, Coherent Raman scattering microscopy, and single-cell genomics, he made major contributions to the emergence of these fields. Furthermore, he has made significant advances on medical applications of label-free optical imaging and single-cell genomics. In particular, his inventions in single-cell genomics have been used in in vitro fertilization benefited tens of thousands of families by avoiding the transmission of monogenic diseases to their newborns. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sunney quickly responded to this public health crisis by applying high-throughput single cell sequencing to identify highly potent neutralizing antibodies. His team developed a broad-spectrum antibody drug against all existent SARS-CoV-2 variants, which has saved many lives in China.

More than fifty of his students and post-doctorates have become professors at major universities around the world, and two are co-founders of start-up companies. Professor Xie's current research interests include the following scientific, technological, and medical areas:

Honors and awards

Selected Literature

COVID-19 Research

Single-Cell Genomics

Gene Expression and Regulation

Single Molecule Enzymology

Coherent Raman Imaging

Single Molecule Imaging

See also

References

  1. ↑ "About Professor Xie". Archived from the original on 10 October 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  2. ↑ "Xie Xiaoliang is latest Chinese scientist to give up US citizenship". South China Morning Post. 9 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  3. ↑ "The Asian Scientist 100". Asian Scientist. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  4. ↑ "PKU Professor Xiaoliang Sunney Xie awarded Qiu Shi Outstanding Scientist Award of 2017". Peking University. Archived from the original on 10 October 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  5. ↑ "关于公布2017年中国科学院院士增选当选院士名单的公告" (in Chinese). Chinese Academy of Sciences. 28 November 2017. Archived from the original on 23 November 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  6. ↑ Ogilvie, Jenna (17 October 2016). "National Academy of Medicine Elects 79 New Members". National Academy of Medicine. Archived from the original on 18 October 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  7. ↑ "Albany Medical Center Prize". Archived from the original on 23 April 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  8. ↑ "Peter Debye Award". Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  9. ↑ "NIH Director's Pioneer Award 2013". Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  10. ↑ "Ellis R. Lippincott Award". Archived from the original on 31 October 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  11. ↑ "Berthold Leibinger Zukunftspreis". Archived from the original on 27 October 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  12. ↑ "Biography of Xie from the Website of the Willis E. Lamb Award (displayed June 4, 2008)". Archived from the original on 20 August 2008. Retrieved 4 June 2008.
  13. ↑ "NIH Director's Pioneer Award 2004". Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2015.