Executive Profile
Brilliant Researcher Who Holds The Promise Key For Cancer Treatment
Shuming Nie, Ph.D.
Wallace H. Coulter Distinguished Chair,
Professor of Biomedical Engineering; Chemistry, Hematology/Oncology
Director of Emory-Georgia Tech Nanotechnology Center
By Andrian Putra
Professor Shuming Nie’s pioneering nanotechnology research at Emory’s Winship Cancer Institute and Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech offers great promise to early detection, personalized diagnostics for cancer treatment and the creation of new cancer drugs.
Dr. Nie is one of the first scientists in the world to utilize nanotechnology in the biomedical field. Used in manufacturing for many years, nanotechnology enables scientists to build devices and materials one atom or molecule at a time, creating tightly packed structures that take on new properties by virtue of their miniature size. A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter, or about 100,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair.
Dr. Nie is testing the use of nanoparticles called quantum dots as a method to improve clinical diagnostic tests for the early detection of cancer. These dots could serve as “smart bombs” to deliver a controlled amount of drug to a particular type of cell.
Formerly a professor of chemistry at Indiana University at Bloomington, Dr. Nie is among the first group of researchers brought to Georgia Tech and Emory by the Georgia Cancer Coalition. His journey to become one of the leading researcher in the biomedical engineering is a tale of blessing-in-disguise.
Dr. Nie was born and grew up in Lingso County, Hebei Province in China. “While I was younger, my passion is not academic but in traditional Chinese music. I really enjoyed playing the Chinese violin and flute,” said Dr. Nie with a smile.
“I auditioned to join a local Chinese opera troupe and was told by the troupe leader to go home! In reality, it was a blessing in disguise,” Dr. Nie recalled with a laughter.
Taking the rejection in stride, the young Nie began to focus on schoolwork and fell in love with mathematics. He entered a math competition in Hebei Province and won third prize. With renewed confidence, Nie took the national college exam and earned a seat in the prestigious Nankai University in Tianjin.
Upon enrollment, he was offered to major in Chemistry where majors are pre-determined by university officials. The young Nie did not relate with Chemistry and he later requested to be transferred to the Chinese literature department. Nie at the time has developed a passion for writing and literature. University again turned him down official. Nie had to stick with Chemistry major; however, he decided to major in Quantum Mechanics as it is closely related to mathematics.
Nie stumbled across an opportunity to study overseas through a national exam competition, which he passed and won a seat to study in a Ph.D program at Northwestern University. Upon graduation from Northwestern, Nie did his postdoctoral studies at Georgia Tech and another two years of postdoctoral work at Stanford University. In 1994 Nie was recruited to join the Chemistry Department at Indiana University.
“Looking back at earlier years especially my interest in music and writing are not wasted in vain after all -- it has helped me tremendously especially in composition and organizing data in my scientific research,” said Dr. Nie who encourages his students to be multidisciplinary in their approach to solving problems.
Dr. Nie benefited from the multidisciplinary approach when he submitted his first scientific paper to Science magazine. The 1994 publication in Science magazine is a major feat for the young researcher and brought instant recognition to his work.
In 2002, Dr. Nie joined Emory University and Georgia Tech faculties after being recruited by Georgia Cancer Coalition, a public-private partnership established by the Georgia General Assembly.
During the last 10 years, Dr. Nie has published over 100 scholarly papers, filed 20 patents/inventions, and has delivered more than 300 invited talks and keynote lectures. His research program is funded by more than $30 million federal grants from the National Institutes of Health, the US Department of Energy, and the US Department of Defense.
“I owed a great deal to Dr. Richard Zare of Stanford University. He not only teaches me the scientific knowledge and issues; but he also teaches me a great deal about life, philosophy, human relationship, etc. His enthusiasm is a great strength to me,” answers Dr. Nie about his role model and mentor. “I also like to include my wife -- Dr. May Wang who is both a mentor and motivator.” Dr. Wang is herself a distinguish professor and faculty member at Georgia Tech’s Biomedical Engineering.
Dr. Nie had adopted a philosophy, which he learned from listening to a Dalai Lama lecture at Indiana University. “The ability to help others to succeed will make you feel happier -- this is what drives me everyday.”
He is also quick to share his experience pertaining to success and failure. “When you are successful, always analyze what could possibly fail in the future. And when you failed, look for ways to succeed in the future.”
“It is also important to be truthful and objective in analyzing failure -- frustrations will make you stronger,” adds Dr. Nie.
These days have been hectic for Dr Nie since Emory University and Georgia Tech together have been selected for a prestigious, national designation in the field of cancer research. The two institutions have been chosen as one of seven “National Centers of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence” through the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute. The designation and its accompanying grant is worth about $20 million over the next five years for Emory and Georgia Tech.
The new center was named the “Emory-Georgia Tech Nanotechnology Center for Personalized and Predictive Oncology.” It housed both in the Emory Winship Cancer Institute and on the Georgia Tech campus. Dr. Nie is appointed the new center’s director and principal investigator.
He is proud to add that he believes Atlanta is amongst the top 5 centers in the country for biomedical nanotechnologies besides Boston, San Francisco, San Diego.
“In five to ten years, I hope to train more PhDs or post doctoral fellows in biomedical nanotechnologies and help to start new businesses where the CEO or CTOs would in return donate money to our research!” said Dr. Nie with a sense of humor in closing the interview.
Dr. Shuming Nie’s List of Favorites
Favorite Piece of Music: Chinese Folk Music
Favorite Place in Georgia: Chateau Elan
Favorite Place To Visit in The World: London, England
Favorite Food: Spicy Hunan or Szechuan
Favorite Restaurant: China Inn
Favorite Movies: Clint Eastwood’s western
Favorite Charity: anything related education
Favorite Website: yahoo.com
PERSONAL
Married to May D. Wang, PhD
Children: None
Pet: None