Shuo Xiao, PhD, Rutgers University, studies how cancer treatments affect women’s reproductive health
Why can chemotherapy lead to infertility or early menopause? As Dr. Xiao explains, “Anti-cancer agents
will kill cancer cells… however, the egg …is more sensitive to the side- effects of those anti-cancer agents.
That’s why young female cancer patients have very high risk of infertility and early menopause. For our research,
we want to study why cancer therapy will kill the egg.” Xiao’s work focuses on understanding these mechanisms
and developing ways to protect fertility without compromising lifesaving treatment. He is also working toward
solutions that could preserve long-term hormone and reproductive health long after treatment ends. “We are
trying to develop a safe, highly-selective, and potent inhibitor that can be a potential drug… for young female
patients to preserve fertility.”
The long-term goal is practical and deeply patient-centered
The eventual goal [of my research is] to develop a medicine that can be co-administered in young female cancer
patients… so that it doesn’t affect the cancer therapy efficacy and at the same time it can protect the ovary.”
Xiao’s work is grounded in real-world impact. “What makes me most proud is the translational impact… I really
want to translate my scientific research findings to patients, we call it bench to bedside research. I really hope
my research funding can… help female cancer patients in the real world to preserve their fertility.”
That work accelerated dramatically after he received a THRIVE pilot grant
“THRIVE focuses on a research field that other foundations or federal [organizations] don’t focus on very much:
the side effects of cancer treatment…Seed funding is important for faculty who want to generate proof of
concept of a new idea …and if it is true, they can deep dive for further funding.” The THRIVE support allowed
Xiao to produce early data and open new scientific directions. He said, “Getting the THRIVE pilot grant is a game
changer for me. Using that $50,000 [from THRIVE], I generated a lot of preliminary data… I got a $3 million NIH
grant for a deeper dive. Without the HESI THRIVE pilot grant, my bigger NIH grant is not possible.” Additionally,
according to Xiao, his “findings from the THRIVE funding gave me a lot of new ideas that could let me explore
several new directions about this topic.”
Today, Dr. Xiao’s work continues to build on that foundation
Moving from discovery toward clinical application. The THRIVE grant provided the catalyst that helped
transform promising early ideas into NIH-funded research — bringing the possibility of fertility-preserving
therapies closer to reality for female cancer patients.