RESEARCH

Research Focuses

Molecular and omics approaches for stress and Alzheimer’s diagnosis in Vietnam

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and chronic stress are two common neuropsychiatric disorders with intertwined pathologies. Chronic stress dysregulates the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, elevating cortisol and causing hippocampal atrophy, which accelerates neurodegeneration. AD, the leading cause of dementia in older adults, often advances silently, delaying intervention. In Vietnam, centralized screening and diagnostics limit early detection. Although biomarkers such as cortisol, phosphorylated tau 217 (p‑tau217), and cell‑free RNA (cf‑RNA) have shown diagnostic value internationally, they remain untested locally due to gaps in our understanding of their molecular mechanisms and a lack of Vietnamese population data. To address this situation, we integrate multi‑omics and biosensor approaches aimed at enabling early, minimally invasive detection and risk stratification of stress and AD in Vietnam, thereby laying the groundwork for accessible clinical diagnostics. We combine a wide range of methods, including (1) isolating plasma cf‑RNA for sequencing and bioinformatic analysis to identify AD‑associated gene signatures and correlating cf‑RNA levels with MMSE scores and MRI‑measured atrophy; (3) fabricating electrochemical sensors using carbon electrodes enhanced with carbon nanotubes and platinum nanoparticles characterized by SEM, XRF, and AFM and validating it via impedance spectroscopy and voltammetry; (4) developing rapid, low‑cost, noninvasive saliva cortisol assays that combines antibody–aptamer biosensors in lateral‑flow strips with electrochemical detection; and (5) integrating cortisol measurements, ECG‑derived heart‑rate variability, and behavioral assessments (PANAS, VAS) under standardized social stress tests to build a multi‑layered stress evaluation model. 

Application of biosignal - neuroimaging analysis in diagnosis and neurological rehabilitation

Neurological and psychiatric disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), stroke, depression, and chronic stress share complex central-nervous-system alterations whose molecular and temporal dynamics remain poorly understood across individuals. In Vietnam, the lack of representative physiologic datasets undermines diagnostic models, which rely on late-stage detection via specialized imaging, qualitative assessments, and centralized hospitals creating access barriers for rural and low-income communities. Moreover, the absence of quantitative, personalized, point-of-care tools limits effective intervention and rehabilitation. To address these issues, we integrate signal-processing and medical-imaging solutions tailored to Vietnam’s context, aiming to enable early, personalized diagnosis, intervention, and recovery. We combine a wide range of methods, including (1) building a multimodal Vietnamese database by partnering with hospitals to collect retrospective and prospective MRI and EEG data, supplemented with international repositories to improve model robustness; (2) creating deployable diagnostic tools AI-augmented brain MRI for early AD detection, EEG algorithms for psychiatric monitoring and post-stroke dementia forecasting, and unsupervised learning to characterize mild cognitive impairment (MCI); (3) implementing two low-cost, nonpharmacological interventions—mindfulness-based stress reduction with alpha-wave audio for students and a smartphone cognitive-training app (BrainTrain) for MCI patients evaluating EEG and cognitive metrics pre- and post-intervention; and (4) developing a noninvasive EEG-driven brain–computer interface based on Vietnamese EEG signatures to enable motor-impaired patients to control daily devices.

Active Projects

1.  Development of an electrochemical biosensor quantifying pTau-217 marker in plasma for Alzheimer’s disease detection

2. Application of Artificial Intelligence in diagnostic and prognostic of Alzheimer’s disease in Vietnam

3. Automatic speech analysis for classifying Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment

4. Application of machine learning and EEG markers for the detection and prediction of epileptic seizure

5. Development of a culturally-friendly virtual reality (VR) supermarket for cognitive assessment in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients in Vietnam

6. BrainTrain - A cognitive intervention application designed to prevent dementia in the elderly

Past Projects

1.  Development of a Cortisol quantification assay for reliable and low-cost stress diagnosis

2. Development of a non-invasive blood test to detect mRNA biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease

3. Development of a large-scale EEG-video database of Vietnamese individuals for applications in intelligent control systems and initial use in supporting motor function rehabilitation for stroke patients

4. Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) In University Students

5. Effect of alpha wave-containing music on psychological stress level of college students and hospital staffs

6. Stress evaluation of college students using EEG signal