To enhance the development of the research team in Shenzhen Bay Laboratory (SZBL), support innovative research, and encourage interdisciplinary cooperation, the SZBL launched the Shenzhen Bay Scholars Programme in 2021. The Shenzhen Bay Scholars Programme comprises three categories: “Shenzhen Bay Distinguished Scholar”, “Shenzhen Bay Scholar”, and “Shenzhen Bay Fellow”, in which, the “Shenzhen Bay Fellow” is designed to cultivate and support a group of young scholars with strong academic foundations, exceptional innovative ability, and significant potentials of growth, promote the talent pipeline of the SZBL across various institutes/centers academic echelons and research teams, and encourage bold and original scientific research and exploration.
While other children dreamed of becoming scientists, doctors or teachers, Siwei Xie quietly wrote "engineer" under his name. His teacher smiled and asked "Do you know what an engineer does?" He confidently replied "Yes, I do. I already know how to repair bicycles, and I will build bigger and stronger machines in the future." He was not yet 10 years old at that time. With determined ambition, twenty years later, Siwei Xie was appointed as a Shenzhen Bay Fellow, holding over thirty patents and becoming a rising star in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) research field.
The mountains are high and the road is far, but the scenery is infinite
"I studied Mechanical Engineering as an undergraduate and knew nothing about PET at the time. It was Professors Xu and Peng who introduced me to the field." said Siwei Xie. Among many postgraduate recommendation students, Professor Jianfeng Xu from the Department of Mechatronics Engineering at Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) saw potential in Xie and offered him an opportunity to pursue Ph.D. directly. "HUST's Mechanical Engineering program is among the best in China, having produced renowned academicians like Shuzi Yang, Ji Zhou and Xinyu Shao. It was my dream school. Professor Xu was the first to believe in me, and his encouragement set me on the research path."
In 2016, Professor Jianfeng Xu and Researcher Qiyu Peng collaborated to develop a specialized brain PET system and assigned an important project to Siwei Xie. In December of 2016 and February of 2018, Xie received grants from his university and the China Scholarship Council separately, headed to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in the United States for study under Researcher Qiyu Peng. As a disciple of PET pioneer Thomas Budinger, Researcher Peng has excelled in the field for years. PET technology, a cornerstone of advanced medical imaging, allows for non-invasive, quantitative, and dynamic evaluation of metabolic, biochemical, and functional activities in the body, aiding in early diagnosis, treatment planning, and prognosis of cancer, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases. However, the PET imaging technology with high entry requirements and strong complexities, involving materials science, optics, electromechanics, communication, algorithms and etc., requires entry-level player like Xie to spend a lot of time to learn all these unfamiliar disciplines.
"My mom always told me to study until I couldn't anymore. But from 2014 to 2017, during my 'PET introduction' period, I often felt close to my limit. During these tough times, Professors Xu and Peng gave me tremendous support and unwavering trust, helping me navigate my path," Xie recalled. Under Peng's mentorship, Xie dedicated himself to mastering PET imaging in the U.S. By the end of 2017, he published his first SCI paper. After that, it seemed he had mastered the scientific code. When he graduated in 2020, Xie had published seven SCI papers as first/corresponding author, received the National Scholarship for Doctoral Students, delivered five presentations at IEEE NSS-MIC, with two papers highlighted, and applied for one U.S. patent (granted) and 34 Chinese invention patents, with 17 granted.
"Ultimately, resilience is crucial for researchers. You need the courage to break through barriers and endure long periods without results. I am profoundly grateful to Researcher Qiyu Peng—his guidance and support were invaluable except my family." Xie reflected.
Walk through mountains and rivers, never change
In the early 21st century, China's PET/CT equipment market was monopolized by imports, urgently needing homegrown technology. During his Ph.D. in the United States, whenever Siwei Xie felt drained, he reminded himself of his family’s and mentors' expectations and his duty to his country. Driven by a deep dedication, he aspired to return home and make significant contributions. In 2020, when Researcher Qiyu Peng invited him to join the Shenzhen Bay Laboratory (SZBL), Xie accepted without hesitation. "China has been held back in the PET/CT field for many years, but not anymore. Many of us have returned to change that," Xie stated.
“China has been pushing for the development of advanced medical equipment and improving the national pharmaceutical innovation platform. The SZBL is a crucial part of this endeavor, with its advanced research platforms, comprehensive support, open information sharing and effective translational systems. I hope to realize my dreams here and make meaningful contributions.” said Xie.
During his three years at the SZBL, Siwei Xie achieved a breakthrough in PET technology. Traditional PET detectors provided only two-dimensional coordinates of γ photons. Xie innovated the "spectral window" PET detector, allowing high-precision measurement of γ photons' depth within scintillation crystals, thereby achieving three-dimensional imaging. His team is now nearing the goal of creating a domestic brain-specific PET system.
The brain PET system can provide early diagnosis, disease assessment, and therapy evaluation for brain tumors, neurological disorders and mental illnesses. They offer lower production costs, higher sensitivity, and better spatial resolution compared to standard PET systems. With around 15 million Alzheimer's patients and millions suffering from Parkinson's and epilepsy in China, early diagnosis and intervention are crucial. The brain PET can precisely locate lesions and aid doctors in diagnosis and treatment planning, significantly improving the chances of effective treatment.
Set sails when the wind is strong enough, and forge ahead at the right time
In September 2022, with Siwei Xie at the helm, Bay Imaging Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. was established, becoming the first company to translate scientific research results from the SZBL. Valued at over 100 million yuan, the company completed an angel funding round exceeding 10 million yuan in early 2023. "'Bay Imaging' reflects my deep gratitude towards the SZBL for their guidance and support," Xie said, expressing his confidence for the future of the company. "Our vision at Bay Imaging is to enable early and precise diagnosis of brain diseases. We've mastered the core technology for developing brain PET/CT systems, and we're on the verge of assembling the first complete machine. This market is worth hundreds of billions of yuan, and there isn’t a single prototype of a brain PET/CT globally. If we succeed, it will be the first one in the world and this is a groundbreaking achievement for the industry and our nation."
Opportunities come with challenges. Building a complete system requires expertise in detectors, optics, electronics, materials, and algorithms. Managing a company requires skills in operations, marketing, and sales. Xie expressed that "Building the right team is the first step. The best team isn’t necessarily about having the highest qualifications, but about having the right fit. Our team is like a puzzle where each member excels in their specialty, whether mechanical or electronics, with no academic barriers. I see myself as the frame holding them together."
Xie’s leadership was evident during his time as a class monitor and vice president of the student union. According to core team member Engineer Zhu, "He always appeared calm and confident. I've never seen him panic. He planned ahead, assigned tasks based on our strengths, and ensured everyone moved towards our goals smoothly. He’s not the typical engineering stereotype. He often chatted with team members, genuinely cared about our work and personal well-being and cared about whether we are happy. To me, he's a leader with great humanity."
Remain true to the original aspiration and self-cultivate to benefit others. Xie remains committed to his original dream: improving human welfare through technological innovation. "I hope that our efforts will bring PET to every household, enabling early diagnosis and screening for neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s, various tumors, and mental illnesses, ensuring that our parents can enjoy a happy and peaceful old age," Xie concluded.
