Nham Tran

Associate Professor Nham Tran is a leading academic at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), affiliated with the School of Biomedical Engineering. His research focuses on non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), particularly miRNAs and lncRNAs, in cancer biology, infectious diseases, and diagnostics. He holds roles including former Deputy Head of School (Teaching and Learning) and Program Director of Biomedical Engineering. Tran completed his PhD at UNSW and postdoctoral research at various institutes before joining UTS as a Chancellor's Fellow.

Education:

• PhD in non-coding RNA biology, University of New South Wales (2006)
• BSc (Hons), University of Sydney (2000)

Research Interests: Tran’s lab investigates ncRNA roles in head and neck cancers, HPV-driven oropharyngeal carcinomas, cross-kingdom RNA regulation, and diagnostic tools like salivary biomarkers. His work bridges biomedical engineering and molecular biology, emphasizing liquid biopsy development for early cancer detection.

Awards & Funding:

• REDI Fellowship (2023)
• Funding from ARC, DoD, Cancer Institute NSW, and TCRN

Grants & Supervision: Supervises students in Biomedical Engineering and oversees collaborative projects. Recent grants include a Passe and Williams Grant for salivary OPC diagnostics (2025).

Labs & Collaborations: The Tran Lab collaborates globally, focusing on RNA-based diagnostics and host-pathogen interactions. The team’s work is published in Clinical Chemistry, BMC Cancer, and Trends in Parasitology.