Welcome to the Tran Laboratory

Recent Publications

​Our current research is focused on 1) using RNA molecules as diagnostic tools for early cancer detection and 2) the engineering and evaluation of small and long RNA molecules for their use as potential therapeutics. Our lab is also interested in how viruses or other parasites can re-engineer or manipulate the mammalian genome.

1. Mason, D. et al. (2021) The dynamic interactome of microRNAs in head and neck cancers. Curr Opin Virol 51, 87-95.

2. Tran, N. et al. (2021) Fasciola hepatica hijacks host macrophage miRNA machinery. Sci Rep 11, 6712. 10.1038/s41598-021-86125-1​

​3. Hill, M. and Tran, N. (2021) Global miRNA to miRNA Interactions. Trends Cell Biol 31, 3-5. 10.1016/j.tcb.2020.10.005

Join the team!

Available Research Projects
Read about our amazing PhD students

Our Research!

​MicroRNAs are tiny molecules that circulate in our bodies. We discovered that when one these microRNAs is disrupted this change in expression can be measured in the blood. This can provide us with valuable clinical information about a patient’s susceptibility to oral cancer.

​Our research is dedicated to improving patient outcomes and to understand the biology of human cancers. The lab has PhD, honours and capstone students working on various projects. If you are interested in joining please contact us.

Associate Professor N.Tran
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Lab News

​Meet the new members for 2022, Alice, Sarah and Jess. We also have Sumaiya Chowdhury who is joining our lab as a PhD student. She is also supervise by Sheila Donnelly @ UTS.
We have lab members working on various aspects of oral cancer and HPV16 research. Between running gels, performing PCRs and growing cells, we find the time to have fun and enjoy our science! Every year we also fund raise for the Cancer Council of NSW

Lab Videos

Nham's Blog

​2/3/2022: As we start the teaching semester, IT's good to see all the students back. We had a great lab meeting on Monday and welcomed new team members. 
4/2/2022: End of the week and we had Meredith and Dayna present their final PhD seminars. Both spoke so well  and did themselves proud. 
17/2/2022: After several weeks leave, back to work this week and ready fro another exciting year. ​

Quantitative PCR Workshop ​- 4 Day Course
Our workshop will be back in 2023

Our workshop caters for beginners and also post-doctoral scientists wishing to further their understanding of qPCR.

​The course will cover experimental design, controls, and how to interpret your data. Hands-on experience will include cDNA preps, Sybr green, Taqman qPCRs, singleplex vs multiplex reactions.
We will also have practicals on designing mRNA and miRNA primer sets. Cost for the course is $400 (Inc GST+Booking Fee*) per person. Class size will be limited to 30 participants and includes all materials. In 2020, we hope to deliver two course for PhD students and a more advance course for industry. Please register your interest with Nham Tran

Explainer: microRNA, the puppet master of the genome


​What are miRNA?
MicroRNAs, are very small ncRNAs found in cells and only represent less than 0.1% of the entire mammalian transcriptome. However these tiny RNAs   can control up to two thirds of gene expression in mammalian cells.  Many miRNAs are dysregulated in common cancers such as those originating in the breast, lung, colon, liver, head and neck and the prostate. They are now regarded as key regulators in the process of tumourigenesis and given their impact on tumour biology, a plethora of studies have also suggested the use of miRNAs as potential biomarkers. Our lab is using  miRNAs to act as diagnostic or prognostic markers in head and neck cancers.
What is HPV?
​The human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes cervical cancer in women, is also responsible for many cancers in men. It causes most cancers of the tonsils (known as oropharyngeal cancers), which are more common in men than women. HPV is also to blame for cancers of the anus, vulva, vagina and penis. The best way to prevent these cancers is to get the HPV vaccine, which is available for free under Australia’s National HPV Vaccination Program to boys and girls aged 12 and 13. 
What are hybrid cigarettes?
Heat not burn products are electronic devices that contain tobacco leaves. When you heat them, they produce a vapour containing nicotine, which you inhale. They are different from conventional cigarettes in their mechanism, which heats the tobacco to considerably lower temperatures. In heat not burn devices, the tobacco is heated to 350℃, compared to traditional cigarettes that combust and burn at up to 900℃.
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Despite this, the temperature in heat not burn products is still high enough for harmful chemicals to be vaporised and inhaled.