Dr Thao Nguyen

Post Doctoral - Researcher

Adelaide Medical School

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Dr Thao M Nguyen
NHMRC Early Career Research Fellow

Thao Nguyen’s research focuses in understanding the fundamental mechanisms involved in controlling how bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) support the process of blood cell formation and modulate immune cell responses. Of major interests are the role of Eph receptor tyrosine kinases and ephrin ligands in these processes. Her PhD work investigated the role of Eph/ephrin interactions in BMSC-mediated bone regeneration, support of haematopoiesis and immune cell regulation. The study demonstrated that EphB4, expressed by BMSC, enhances haematopoietic reconstitution following bone marrow transplantation. In addition, EphB2 and ephrin-B2, expressed by ex-vivo expanded human BMSC, mediate the suppression of activated human T-cells by interacting with their cognate binding partners expressed on the T-cells.

My Research
Career
Publications
Grants and Funding
Teaching
Professional Activities
Contact

The role of Eph/ephrin interactions in mesenchymal stem cell-mediated support of haematopoiesis and immune cell regulation

Appointments

Date	Position	Institution name
2017 - 2017	Post-Doctoral Researcher	Mesenchymal Stem Cell Laboratory, The University of Adelaide
2016 - ongoing	Guest lecturer	University of South Australia
2016 - 2017	Post-Doctoral Researcher	Mesenchymal Stem Cell Laboratory, The University of Adelaide
2014 - 2015	Research Officer	Mesenchymal Stem Cell Laboratory, The University of Adelaide
2008 - 2010	Research Officer	University of Adelaide
2004 - 2008	Resarch Officer	University of Adelaide
2003 - 2004	Research Officer	Numico Research Australia
2003 - 2003	Research Officer	Queensland Institute of Medical Research
2002 - 2002	Technical Officer (0.5FTE)	Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science

Awards and Achievements

Date	Type	Title	Institution Name	Country	Amount
2018	Award	Travel Grant	The National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia	Australia	850
2018	Fellowship	NHMRC Early Career Fellowship	NHMRC	Australia
2018	Fellowship	Heart Foundation Early Career Fellowship (Unable to accept)	Heart Foundation	Australia
2016	Award	Travel grant	School of Medicine, The University of Adelaide	Australia	$3000
2015	Award	Travel Grant	National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia	Australia	$1000
2015	Award	Travel grant	Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand	Australia	$1000
2015	Award	Educational Grant	Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand	Australia
2015	Recognition	Finalist of the Albert Baikie Memorial Award	HAA Annual Scientific Meeting	Australia
2015	Recognition	Finalist of the Ross Wishart Memorial Award	ASMR Annual Scientific Meeting	Australia
2014	Award	Travel Grant	National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia	Australia	$1000
2014	Award	Best PhD Oral Presentation Award	ASSCR and Cellular Therapy meeting	Australia
2013	Award	Travel Grant	National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia	Australia
2013	Award	Travel Grant	International Society for Hematology and Stem Cell	United States
2013	Award	Best PhD Poster Award	ASMR Annual Scientific Meeting	Australia
2010	Award	Post Graduate Award	The University of Adelaide	Australia	$22,000 per year for three years
2010	Scholarship	Top-up PhD scholarship	University of South Australia	Australia
2010	Award	Post-Graduate Award	University of South Australia	Australia
1999	Scholarship	Equity HECS Exemption	University of South Australia	Australia

Language Competencies

Language Competency

Vietnamese Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review

Language	Competency
Vietnamese	Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review

Education

Date	Institution name	Country	Title
2015	University of South Australia	Australia	Doctor of Philosophy
2003	University of South Australia	Australia	Bachelor of Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

Certifications

Date Title Institution name Country

1999 Ethnic Accreditation for Teaching South Australia Ethnic School Board Australia
Research Interests

Biochemistry and Cell Biology Cancer Cell Biology Cancer Genetics Cancer Therapy Cardiovascular Medicine and Haematology Cell Biology Haematological Tumours Haematology Cancer Biology and Clinical Oncology Translational Health Outcomes

Date	Title	Institution name	Country
1999	Ethnic Accreditation for Teaching	South Australia Ethnic School Board	Australia

Journals

Year	Citation
2019	Arthur, A., Nguyen, T. M., Paton, S., Zannettino, A. C. W., & Gronthos, S. (2019). Loss of EfnB1 in the osteogenic lineage compromises their capacity to support hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell maintenance. Experimental Hematology, 69, 43-53. DOI Scopus10 WoS10 Europe PMC4
2019	Toledo-Flores, D., Williamson, A., Schwarz, N., Fernando, S., Dimasi, C., Witt, T. A., . . . Psaltis, P. J. (2019). Vasculogenic properties of adventitial Sca-1⁺CD45⁺ progenitor cells in mice: a potential source of vasa vasorum in atherosclerosis. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 7286-1-7286-15. DOI Scopus11 WoS11 Europe PMC4
2018	Arthur, A., Nguyen, T., Paton, S., Klisuric, A., Zannettino, A., & Gronthos, S. (2018). The osteoprogenitor-specific loss of ephrinB1 results in an osteoporotic phenotype affecting the balance between bone formation and resorption. Scientific Reports, 8(1), 12756-1-12756-12. DOI Scopus9 WoS8 Europe PMC2
2017	Nguyen, T., Arthur, A., Zannettino, A., & Gronthos, S. (2017). EphA5 and EphA7 forward signaling enhances human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell maintenance, migration, and adhesion via Rac1 activation. Experimental Hematology, 48, 72-78. DOI Scopus14 WoS12 Europe PMC8
2016	M Nguyen, T., Arthur, A., & Gronthos, S. (2016). Eph/ephrin-mediated mesenchymal stem cell regulation of T-cell activation and function. Journal of Clinical and Cellular Immunology, 7(3), 418-1-418-7. DOI
2016	Nguyen, T., Arthur, A., Paton, S., Hemming, S., Panagopoulos, R., Codrington, J., . . . Gronthos, S. (2016). Loss of ephrinB1 in osteogenic progenitor cells impedes endochondral ossification and compromises bone strength integrity during skeletal development. Bone, 93, 12-21. DOI Scopus14 WoS14 Europe PMC9
2016	Nguyen, T., Arthur, A., & Gronthos, S. (2016). The role of Eph/ephrin molecules in stromal–hematopoietic interactions. International Journal of Hematology, 103(2), 145-154. DOI Scopus14 WoS14 Europe PMC10
2016	Arthur, A., Cakouros, D., Cooper, L., Nguyen, T., Isenmann, S., Zannettino, A., . . . Gronthos, S. (2016). Twist-1 enhances bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cell support of hematopoiesis by modulating CXCL12 expression. Stem Cells, 34(2), 504-509. DOI Scopus13 WoS13 Europe PMC12
2015	Nguyen, T., Arthur, A., Panagopoulos, R., Paton, S., Hayball, J., Zannettino, A., . . . Gronthos, S. (2015). EphB4 expressing stromal cells exhibit an enhanced capacity for hematopoietic stem cell maintenance. Stem Cells, 33(9), 2838-2849. DOI Scopus23 WoS23 Europe PMC18
2013	Nguyen, T., Arthur, A., Hayball, J., & Gronthos, S. (2013). Ephb and Ephrin-B interactions mediate human mesenchymal stem cell suppression of activated T-cells. Stem Cells and Development, 22(20), 2751-2764. DOI Scopus46 WoS46 Europe PMC40
2010	Sasseville, M., Ritter, L., Nguyen, T., Liu, F., Mottershead, D., Russell, D., & Gilchrist, R. (2010). Growth differentiation factor 9 signaling requires ERK1/2 activity in mouse granulosa and cumulus cells. Journal of Cell Science, 123(18), 3166-3176. DOI Scopus56 WoS51 Europe PMC36
2010	Hayden, M., Tabone, T., Nguyen, T., Coventry, S., Keiper, F., Fox, R., . . . Eglinton, J. (2010). An informative set of SNP markers for molecular characterisation of Australian barley germplasm. Crop and Pasture Science, 61(1), 70-83. DOI Scopus17 WoS11
2008	Hayden, M., Nguyen, T., Waterman, A., & Chalmers, K. (2008). Multiplex-ready PCR: A new method for multiplexed SSR and SNP genotyping. BMC Genomics, 9(1), WWW 1-WWW 12. DOI Scopus132 WoS117 Europe PMC54
2008	Hayden, M., Nguyen, T., Waterman, A., McMichael, G., & Chalmers, K. (2008). Application of multiplex-ready PCR for fluorescence-based SSR genotyping in barley and wheat. Molecular Breeding, 21(3), 271-281. DOI Scopus98 WoS93 Europe PMC37
2007	Hayden, M. J., Nguyen, T. M., & Chalmers, K. J. (2007). Development of a set of sequence tagged microsatellites (STMs) for high throughput, marker assisted selection of the stem rust resistance gene Sr2 in bread wheat. Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding.

Conference Papers

Year	Citation
2018	Nguyen, T. M., Arthur, A., & Gronthos, S. (2018). EPHA FORWARD SIGNALLINGS ENHANCE HUMAN HAEMATOPOIETIC PROGENITOR CELL MIGRATION AND ADHESION VIA RAC1 ACTIVATION. In JOURNAL OF GENE MEDICINE Vol. 20 (pp. 1 page). Univ Technol Sydney, Sydney, AUSTRALIA: WILEY.
2016	Nguyen, T., Arthur, A., Purton, L., Hayball, J., Zannettino, A., Paton, S., . . . Gronthos, S. (2016). EphB4 enhances bone marrow stromal stem cell-mediated support of haematopoiesis. In BRITISH JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY Vol. 173 (pp. 30). British Soc Haematol, Glasgow, SCOTLAND: WILEY-BLACKWELL.
2016	Nguyen, T., Arthur, A., Paton, S., Purton, L., & Gronthos, S. (2016). EphrinB1 expressing stromal cells exhibit an enhanced capacity for haematopoietic stem cell maintenance. In BRITISH JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY Vol. 173 (pp. 30). British Soc Haematol, Glasgow, SCOTLAND: WILEY-BLACKWELL.
2009	Sasseville, M., Nguyen, T. M., Ritter, L. J., Russell, D. L., & Gilchrist, R. B. (2009). Oocyte/GDF9 Regulation of Granulosa/Cumulus Cell Functions Requires EGF Receptor/MAPK3/1 Signaling.. In BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION (pp. 72). Pittsburgh, PA: SOC STUDY REPRODUCTION. WoS2
2005	Hayden, M., Nguyen, T., & Chalmers, K. (2005). Multiplex-ready markers: A technique for high-throughput, low-cost genotyping on a semi-automated DNA fragment analyser. In 12th Australian Barley Technical Symposium Conference Proceedings, 11-14 September 2005: [CD-ROM] (pp. 9 pages). Hobart, Tasmania: Australian Barley Association.

Conference Items

Year	Citation
2013	Thao, N., Gronthos, S., Arthur, A., & Hayball, J. (2013). Ephb and Ephrin-B interactions mediate human mesenchymal stem cell suppression of activated T-cells. Poster session presented at the meeting of Abstracts of the Ephb and Ephrin-B interactions mediate human mesenchymal stem cell suppression of activated T-cells, as published in Experimental Hematology. Vienna, AUSTRIA: Elsevier. DOI

Competitive Research Funding

National Competitive Schemes

Date	Project/No.	Funding Body
2016	*Travel grant -* to present at the ISSCR Meeting, San Francisco, USA	School of Medicine, the University of Adelaide
2015	*Travel grant -* to present at the HAA Meeting, Adelaide, Australia	Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand (HSANZ)
2015	*HSANZ Educational grant*	Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand (HSANZ)
2015	*Travel grant* to present at the Australian Society for Stem Cell Research (ASSCR) 8^th Annual Meeting, New South Wales, Australia	The National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia (NSCFA)
2014	*Travel grant -* to present at the ASSCR 7^th Annual Meeting, Victoria, Australia	The National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia (NSCFA)
2013	*Travel grant -* to present at the 42^nd ISEH annual scientific meeting, Vienna, Austria	International Society for Hematology and Stem Cells (ISEH)
2013	*Travel grant -* to present at the ASSCR 6^th Annual Meeting, Brisbane, Australia	The National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia (NSCFA)

Guest Lecturer: Cancer Biology (third year undergraduate course of the Bachelor of Biomedical Research Program – University of South Australia).

Committee Memberships

Date	Role	Committee	Institution	Country
2016 - ongoing	Member	Conference Convenor	The Australian Society for Medical Research	Australia
2016 - ongoing	Member	Conference organising committee	Australian Society for Medical Research	Australia
2016 - ongoing	Member	Communication Committee	The Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research (ASSCR)	Australia
2016 - ongoing	Member	Marketing Task Force Committee	International Society of Hematology and Stem Cells
2015 - ongoing	Member	The Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand		Australia
2015 - ongoing	Member	International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR)
2013 - ongoing	Member	The International Society of Hematology and Stem Cells (ISEH)
2012 - ongoing	Member	The Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research (ASSCR)		Australia
2011 - ongoing	Member	The Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR)		Australia

Memberships

Date	Role	Membership	Country
2016 - ongoing	Member	The International Society for Stem Cell Research	United States
2015 - ongoing	Member	The Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand	Australia
2013 - ongoing	Member	The International Society of Hematology and Stem Cells	United States
2012 - ongoing	Member	The Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research	Australia
2011 - ongoing	Member	The Australian Society for Medical Research	Australia

Community Engagement

Date	Title	Engagement Type	Institution	Country
2018 - ongoing	The International Society for Stem Cell Research Junior Investigators Committee	Scientific Community Engagement	The International Society for Stem Cell Research	United States

Editorial Boards

Date	Role	Editorial Board Name
2016 - ongoing	Member	PLoS One
2016 - ongoing	Member	Hematology
2016 - ongoing	Member	Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation
2016 - ongoing	Member	Blood

Position: Post Doctoral - Researcher
Phone: 81284695
Email: thao.nguyen01@adelaide.edu.au
Campus: North Terrace
Building: SAHMRI - South, floor 5
Org Unit: Medical Specialties