An Interview with Nhu-An Pham

An interview with Nhu-An Pham, PhD., Manager of the Drug Development Program's Histology and Biomarker Laboratory at UHN.

Tell us about your professional background.

I earned my MSc and Ph.D. from the University of Toronto in the Department of Medical Biophysics, studying anti-cancer drug mechanisms in leukemia, colon, pancreas, and lung cancer models.

I gained valuable experience as a Lead Applications Scientist for a biotech company specializing in live cell imaging systems. Later, I returned to UHN and worked as a Scientific Project Manager for the lung cancer preclinical research program and as a Scientific and Operations Manager of the DDP's Histology and Biomarker Laboratory. I was a key contributor in forming the Princess Margaret Living Biobank (PMLB) core, which helps establish and use patient-derived tumor models for the lung research program and other tumor types. My research uses cancer models to study drug response biomarkers and optimize pharmacological treatments to overcome drug resistance. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3063-0292

What aspect of your role do you enjoy the most?

I enjoy assisting researchers with histology imaging technologies at our core facility. My role enables me to learn about novel concepts and biomarkers for tumor specimens. Our team is led by Ming Tsao, FRCPC, MD; along with Jian Zhou, MLT, who has a background in cytology and histology; and Shavanie Seecharran, MSc, who has diverse lab experience in histology sample processing methods. Our team possesses the knowledge and skills to advise on various aspects of slide-base methods, including sample collection and processing, biomarker assay selection, and quantification method choice.

How does this facility help the research community advance its research?

Our lab provides basic histological processing and advanced biomarker methods using the Discovery Ultra system for automated slide preparation and staining to ensure reliable specimen processing and better reproducibility.

This system is equipped with ready-to-use reagents for various methods, including immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and in situ hybridization for mRNA and DNA probes, allowing for rapid and customizable assay development. We adhere to strict standard operating protocols and follow good clinical laboratory practices to provide accurate, reliable, and efficient results.

A key aspect of research is collaboration. Does this facility help on this front?

Our team works with researchers such as cell, molecular, and computational biologists to detect biomarkers in cancer specimens using slide-based assays. We are experienced in handling and processing tumor samples to provide high-quality histological and biomarker services for human tumor specimens and tumor models, including patient-derived tumor organoid (PDO) and Xenograft (PDX) models.

We collaborate with other teams to customize a seamless process for each study: we receive samples for staining or processing and send them to other facilities for additional work, such as imaging or sequencing. For instance, we send samples to our imaging center Advanced Optical Microscopy Facility (AOMF), or for sequencing at genomic centers. We also support unique time-sensitive specimen processing for trials at Princess Margaret Hospital.

What are your goals for the near future?

The DDP Histology and Biomarker Lab is committed to collaborating with researchers. Our team is eager to explore new antibodies and molecular probes and stay ahead of the curve in this exciting field. For more information, please visit: https://histobiomarkerlab.uhnresearch.ca.