Program the chassis
Build attenuated bacteria with inducible gene switches and clinically relevant safety profiles.
See related work ↗Postdoctoral Researcher Chonnam National University
Engineering biology
to outsmart cancer.
I study how living bacteria can become precise, programmable delivery systems for immune-resistant solid tumors.
Translational research
at the tumor frontier
at the tumor frontier
Current focus
Bacteria-mediated
cancer immunotherapy
Designing attenuated Salmonella typhimurium platforms that seek out tumors, deliver therapeutic payloads, and activate the immune system.
Curriculum vitae
CV PROFILE
Postdoctoral Researcher
Institute of Biomedical Science, Hwasun Hospital
Chonnam National University
Dinh-Huy Nguyen specializes in bacteria-mediated cancer immunotherapy, focusing on attenuated Salmonella typhimurium for tumor-targeted delivery of therapeutic and immunostimulatory payloads.
Education
2016-2021
Ph.D. in Microbiology / Immunology
Chonnam National University
2009-2011
M.Sc. in Proteomics
Hanoi College of Science, Vietnam National University
2003-2007
Bachelor in Biology
Qui Nhon University, Vietnam
Experience
Jan 2025-present
Postdoctoral Researcher
Institute of Biomedical Science, Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University
Aug 2022-Dec 2024
Research Professor
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University
Aug 2021-Aug 2022
Postdoctoral Researcher
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University
2013-2016
Researcher
Virology Department, Pasteur Institute in Nha Trang, Vietnam
Research interests
- Genetic engineering
- Cancer immunology
- Bacteria-based cancer immunotherapy
- Molecular imaging
Scientific skills
GraphPad Prism, FlowJo, SnapGene, BioRender and Image Lab.
In vivo tumor models, bacterial and cell culture, flow cytometry, Western blotting, ELISA, gene cloning, PCR, single-cell RNA sequencing, IVIS and bioluminescent imaging.
Honors & awards
Excellent Presentation Award, Program of Molecular Medicine (2016) / Hwasun Biomedical Workshop Awards (2018, 2019) / Excellent Poster Awards, Korean Society of Nuclear Medicine (2023) and Korean Society of Molecular Imaging (2024, 2026) / Postgraduate Award, Hwasun Biomedical Workshop (2025) / Poster presentation, Gordon Research Conference (2026)
Peer review & editorial service
Reviewer, 2024-present: Scientific Reports, Case Reports in Infectious Diseases, Journal of Biological Engineering, World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, British Journal of Cancer, BMC Biology, Microbial Cell Factories and Biomarker Research.
Guest Editor, 2026-present: BMC Biomedical Engineering (in process).
How the research moves
Projects FLOW
A research program that moves from design to delivery, then from immune activation toward translation.
My work combines synthetic biology, tumor targeting and cancer immunology to turn attenuated Salmonella typhimurium into a controllable therapeutic platform.
Load the payload
Engineer Salmonella to carry and release therapeutic proteins, enzymes and immune stimulators.
See related work ↗Reach the tumor
Use tumor tropism and imaging to study where the bacteria localize and how treatment changes the tumor.
See related work ↗Wake the immune system
Remodel the tumor microenvironment and combine bacterial signals with checkpoint immunotherapy.
See related work ↗Move toward translation
Advance safer, more precise bacterial adjuvants and combination strategies toward clinical application.
See related work ↗Selected work
Publications 12
2026Calreticulin-targeting L-asparaginase-flagellin conjugate enhances Salmonella-mediated antitumor efficacyCell Death DiscoveryCited by 0Google Scholar↗
2026A clinically translatable, irreversibly attenuated Salmonella strain as a next-generation adjuvant for checkpoint immunotherapyTheranostics
16 (13), 7139-7159Cited by 0Google Scholar↗ 2026Salmonella typhimurium co-expressing cytolysin A and hyaluronidase suppresses tumor growth and metastasisCell Death Discovery
12, 75Cited by 5Google Scholar↗ 2025Setting “cold” tumors on fire: Cancer therapy with live tumor-targeting bacteriaMed
6 (1), 100549Cited by 19Google Scholar↗ 2024Reprogramming the tumor immune microenvironment using engineered dual-drug loaded SalmonellaNature Communications
15 (1), 6680Cited by 71Google Scholar↗ 2023Bioengineering of bacteria for cancer immunotherapyNature Communications
14, 3553Cited by 172Google Scholar↗ 2024Reprogramming a Doxycycline-Inducible Gene Switch System for Bacteria-Mediated Cancer TherapyMolecular Imaging and Biology
26 (1), 148-161Cited by 14Google Scholar↗ 2023Synergistic cancer immunotherapy utilizing programmed Salmonella typhimurium secreting heterologous flagellin B conjugated to interleukin-15 proteinsBiomaterials
298, 122135Cited by 40Google Scholar↗ 2021Optimized Doxycycline-Inducible Gene Expression System for Genetic Programming of Tumor-Targeting BacteriaMolecular Imaging and BiologyCited by 28Google Scholar↗ 2022Pattern of F-18 FDG Uptake in Colon Cancer after Bacterial Cancer Therapy Using Engineered Salmonella Typhimurium: A Preliminary In Vivo StudyMolecular Imaging
2022, 9222331Cited by 9Google Scholar↗ 2021Bacteria and bacterial derivatives as delivery carriers for immunotherapyAdvanced Drug Delivery Reviews
181, 114085Cited by 112Google Scholar↗ 2021Imaging calreticulin for early detection of immunogenic cell death during anticancer treatmentJournal of Nuclear Medicine
62 (7), 956Cited by 46Google Scholar↗
16 (13), 7139-7159Cited by 0Google Scholar↗ 2026Salmonella typhimurium co-expressing cytolysin A and hyaluronidase suppresses tumor growth and metastasisCell Death Discovery
12, 75Cited by 5Google Scholar↗ 2025Setting “cold” tumors on fire: Cancer therapy with live tumor-targeting bacteriaMed
6 (1), 100549Cited by 19Google Scholar↗ 2024Reprogramming the tumor immune microenvironment using engineered dual-drug loaded SalmonellaNature Communications
15 (1), 6680Cited by 71Google Scholar↗ 2023Bioengineering of bacteria for cancer immunotherapyNature Communications
14, 3553Cited by 172Google Scholar↗ 2024Reprogramming a Doxycycline-Inducible Gene Switch System for Bacteria-Mediated Cancer TherapyMolecular Imaging and Biology
26 (1), 148-161Cited by 14Google Scholar↗ 2023Synergistic cancer immunotherapy utilizing programmed Salmonella typhimurium secreting heterologous flagellin B conjugated to interleukin-15 proteinsBiomaterials
298, 122135Cited by 40Google Scholar↗ 2021Optimized Doxycycline-Inducible Gene Expression System for Genetic Programming of Tumor-Targeting BacteriaMolecular Imaging and BiologyCited by 28Google Scholar↗ 2022Pattern of F-18 FDG Uptake in Colon Cancer after Bacterial Cancer Therapy Using Engineered Salmonella Typhimurium: A Preliminary In Vivo StudyMolecular Imaging
2022, 9222331Cited by 9Google Scholar↗ 2021Bacteria and bacterial derivatives as delivery carriers for immunotherapyAdvanced Drug Delivery Reviews
181, 114085Cited by 112Google Scholar↗ 2021Imaging calreticulin for early detection of immunogenic cell death during anticancer treatmentJournal of Nuclear Medicine
62 (7), 956Cited by 46Google Scholar↗
From lab to clinic
Patents & IP 13
US 2025Composition Comprising Salmonella Strain and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor for Treatment of CancerUnited States Patent Application
US20250041355A1 ↗ US 2024Salmonella Strain for Prevention and Treatment of CancerUnited States Patent Application
US20240390428A1 ↗ EU 2024Pharmaceutical Composition Comprising Salmonella StrainEuropean Patent EP4427755A1
Chonnam National University ↗ AU 2021Salmonella Strain for Treating Cancer and Use ThereofAustralian Patent AU2021376085A1 ↗
US20250041355A1 ↗ US 2024Salmonella Strain for Prevention and Treatment of CancerUnited States Patent Application
US20240390428A1 ↗ EU 2024Pharmaceutical Composition Comprising Salmonella StrainEuropean Patent EP4427755A1
Chonnam National University ↗ AU 2021Salmonella Strain for Treating Cancer and Use ThereofAustralian Patent AU2021376085A1 ↗