Zhen Xu Received the 2026 Golden Goose Award

The Ann Arbor researcher was honored for co-inventing histotripsy, a non-invasive tool used to destroy tumors.

Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Biotech

A complex ultrasound transducer head on a steel arm in a clean, sterile medical laboratory. — Researcher Zhen Xu was awarded the 2026 Golden Goose Award for her development of histotripsy, a non-invasive ultrasound technique used to destroy tumors. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Zhen Xu, the founding director of the Histotripsy Center in Ann Arbor, has been awarded the 2026 Golden Goose Award. The recognition follows her pivotal work in developing a technology that uses ultrasound pulses to collapse and destroy tumors.

Why it matters

The Golden Goose Award highlights the long-term impact of federally funded research on medical breakthroughs. Xu’s work has transitioned from an academic invention into a commercialized clinical tool now utilized in hospitals worldwide.

The FDA-approved Edison system, which uses focused ultrasound to cause targeted cellular collapse, is currently installed in over 130 hospitals. The technology originated from research co-invented by Xu in 2002.

The players

Zhen Xu

She serves as the founding director of the Histotripsy Center and is a primary inventor of the ultrasound-based tumor destruction technology.

HistoSonics

This startup company, valued at $3.75 billion, develops and manufactures the Edison histotripsy system and employs approximately 500 people.

University of Michigan

This institution supports the Histotripsy Center and recently opened a specialized research facility in September 2026 to further the study of ultrasound medicine.

The details

Histotripsy works by directing ultrasound pulses at tissue to create gas bubbles, causing immediate cellular collapse without invasive surgery. Following the 2009 launch of the startup HistoSonics, the technology gained FDA approval in October 2023.

Xu and her colleagues co-invented the histotripsy technology in 2002.
HistoSonics launched as a startup company in 2009.
The FDA granted approval for the Edison histotripsy tool in October 2023.
The valuation of HistoSonics reached $3.75 billion in June 2026.
The University of Michigan opened a dedicated research facility in September 2026.

The Tech Race

The growth of HistoSonics highlights a shift toward non-invasive oncology treatments that replace traditional surgical excisions. This trajectory places the company at the forefront of the medical ultrasound sector as it expands into new therapeutic applications.

Patients may see increased access to non-invasive tumor removal as the Edison system continues its rollout across hospitals. The technology reduces the need for traditional surgery, potentially shortening recovery times for those eligible for ultrasound treatment.

The takeaway

The recognition of histotripsy underscores how academic research can evolve into high-value commercial technology that changes clinical standards. Readers should note that advancements in ultrasound therapy continue to broaden the potential for non-invasive treatments in modern medicine.