Apr 24, 2007 8:00 AM

Chasing a dream pays off

Li Xin left his family behind and traveled halfway around the globe from his home in China to pursue his dream of studying stem cell biology and cancer development at UCLA.

The postdoctoral fellow knew some English when he arrived in the United States five years ago, but his skills reading the language were not great, and he struggled at first. His girlfriend, the only person he knew in America, was away studying for her master's degree in Colorado. He was, literally, a stranger in a strange land.

It took him, however, only a short time to become a top researcher in the lab of renowned scientist Owen Witte. Xin recently became one of 58 recipients nationwide to receive a prestigious new honor from the National Institutes of Health, an award that will take his already impressive scientific career to the next level.

Xin was the only UCLA researcher to receive the NIH Pathway to Independence Award, which will provide about $930,000 over five years to support his research. He will work closely with Witte as his mentor and later focus on independent research projects.

"I am truly gratified by the incredible job that Li has done in advancing our understanding of prostate development and prostate cancer.†His acclimation to a new culture and language, while making great strides in his science, is truly impressive," Witte said. "This type of grant supports the concept that science is truly international and that we must support the best people to do the work that makes a difference."

The NIH award is meant to support new investigators at the point between mentoring and independence, a vulnerable period in their career path.

Xin, 32 and now married to his girlfriend, said the grant will allow him to explore new approaches in his research, which focuses on prostate stem cells and their role in cancer initiation.

"I'm very excited," Xin said. "I think this funding mechanism set up by the NIH is very helpful to young investigators. This will help me a lot during this critical transition stage in my career."

Prior to receiving the NIH grant, Xin's work was supported by a career development grant from the Jonsson Cancer Center's Specialized Program of Research Excellence in Prostate Cancer as well as a training grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the new state agency that oversees stem cell research.

He credited Witte for his vital support and mentorship, and the collaborative research environment at UCLA for his early success.

"Without Dr. Witte's support and critical guidance, I would not have made it to this step," Xin said.

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