Research Center for Infectious Diseases

Menu

28-31 May 2025 | Caravelle Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

28-31 May 2025, Caravelle Hotel
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

THE 20th
PACIFIC BASIN CONSORTIUM

for Environment and Health International Conference

Bidirectional Interactions Between Climate and Health

About the Event

Building on the success of previous PBC International Conferences, funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIH)*, we are excited to invite you to the 20th Pacific Basin Consortium for Environment and Health International Conference (PBC 2025)

General Theme

This year’s theme Bidirectional Interactions Between Climate and Health aims to bring together scientists, engineers, policymakers, industry representatives, government officials, and students to present research pertinent to human and environmental health, fostering discussions on effective and affordable solutions.

WHEN

28th – 31st May, 2025

WHERE

Caravelle Hotel Saigon

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Why Attend PBC 2025?

  • Engage with international scientists and experts from the USA, Australia, Japan, and more
  • Present and discuss innovative research.
  • Network with professionals and collaborators across disciplines.
  • Publish in Scopus-indexed Springer Proceedings in Earth and Environmental Sciences (SPEES)
  • Explore the vibrant culture of Ho Chi Minh City.
Meet Our

Conference Hosts

Associate Professor

Nguyen Phuong Thao

International University, VNUHCM

Biography
Associate Professor Nguyen Phuong Thao

Director, Research Center for Infectious Diseases, International University, VNU-HCMC

Head, Applied Biotechnology for Crop Development Research Unit, International University, VNU-HCM

Dr. Nguyen Phuong Thao earned her Master’s and PhD degrees in Biology from the Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), Japan, in 2005 and 2008, respectively. After returning to Vietnam in 2008, she began her career as a lecturer at the School of Biotechnology, International University, Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM). In 2021, she was appointed Director of the Research Center for Infectious Diseases at VNU-HCM.

Dr. Thao's research primarily focuses on molecular biotechnology, genetic engineering, and cell signal transduction. She is particularly interested in crop improvement and the study of bioactive compounds from medicinal plants, including their identification and characterization for potential disease treatment and health benefits. Thao has actively involved in publications, projects and grants, and conference organization, both domestically and internationally, and has authored and co-authored numerous articles in top-tier journals.

In addition to her research, Dr. Thao serves as a senior advisor to CropLife International and various agricultural companies. She has also contributed to several editorial boards of both domestic and international journals, including serving as Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the VNU-HCM COVID-19 Newsletter. She played a role in the HCM City advisory team on COVID-19 prevention and economic recovery.

As a result, she has archived numerous honors and awards. These include Outstanding Publication Awards from VNU-HCM for many years, the Notable Women in Science and Technology Award from the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City in 2016, the 100 Outstanding Women of Vietnam Award from the Vietnam Women’s Union in 2017, the Notable Teachers of Ho Chi Minh City Award from the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City in 2017... She also received a Certificate of Merit for her contributions to science and technology from the Ministry of Science and Technology in 2022.

Professor

Stephania Cormier (PBC Chair)

Louisiana State University

Biography
Professor Stephania Cormier (PBC Chair)

Dr Stephania Cormier is the Wiener Chair Professor of biological sciences at Louisiana State University and Pennington Biomedical Research Center. In addition, Dr Cormier is an honorary professor in child health at the University of Queensland, is the current chair of the Board of Directors of the Pacific Basin Consortium for Environment and Health.

Dr Cormier’s research focuses on the effect of exposure to environmental factors early in life on the predisposition for respiratory diseases in adults. Additionally, she was instrumental in responding to the emergence of COVID-19, heading the testing lab that serviced 18 facilities and first responders across Louisiana in the first months of the pandemic. As the director of the LSU Superfund Research Center, she is responsible for the coordination of several programs aimed at bettering public health for environmental mediated disease and pathologies. Through her work, she builds resilience in the communities through public engagement of those most at-risk - especially living near superfund sites where hazardous wastes are remediated and/or environmental exposures are more frequent.

­

Her research has continued to shed light on the initiators of the immune and pathophysiological changes that occur during early stages of pulmonary airway disease to ultimately develop effective interventions and therapies. As such, Dr Cormier is uniquely situated at the nidus of basic, translational, and operational support research.

Professor

Peter Sly (PBC Emeritus)

The University of Queensland

Biography
Professor Peter Sly (PBC Emeritus)

Professor Peter Sly is a former Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Pacific Basin Consortium for the Environment and Health, Director, Children’s Health and Environment Program and Director, WHO Collaborating Centre for Children’s Health and Environment. Professor Sly is a NHMRC Senior Principal Research Fellow and a paediatric respiratory physician with extensive research experience in respiratory physiology, developmental immunology and children’s environmental health.

Professor Sly’s research aims to understand the mechanisms underlying chronic childhood lung diseases in order to improve clinical management and to delay or prevent their onset, with consequent reductions in adult lung diseases. A combination of basic science, longitudinal cohort studies and translation of research findings into clinical practice, including clinical trials, are included in three main areas: children’s environmental health, asthma, and cystic fibrosis.

Assistant Professor

Luan Vu

 University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA)

Biography
Assitant Professor Luan Vu

Dr. Luan Vu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA).

His research focuses on immunology and infectious diseases, including RSV, SARS-CoV-2, Dengue, and Hantavirus.

While at the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City, Dr. Vu made significant contributions to Hantavirus research, being the first to describe a case of Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome in Southern Vietnam and linking Seoul virus to clinical cases. He also led molecular phylogenetic studies on Dengue, providing critical insights into the virus’s evolution and transmission.

Dr. Vu earned his PhD from The University of Sydney, where he investigated the immunopathogenesis of Dengue encephalitis. His doctoral work advanced the understanding of immune mechanisms underlying severe Dengue disease.

At UTSA, Dr. Vu employs cutting-edge immunological and multi-omics approaches to study early-life immune responses and develop novel therapeutic strategies. A recipient of the Parker B. Francis Fellowship, his research has been widely recognized, with publications featured as highlights in leading journals. He remains committed to mentoring future scientists and fostering interdisciplinary collaborations.

Associate Professor

Huynh Kim Lam

International University, VNUHCM

Biography
Assoc. Prof. Huynh Kim Lam

Huynh Kim Lam received his B.Eng. in Chemical Engineering at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology. He earned his Ph.D. degree in Physical Chemistry at the University of Utah, USA. He has been trained and worked as a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA, and Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA. He is currently an Associate Professor at the International University, VNU-HCM. He has been interested in multiscale interdisciplinary modeling/simulation of complex chemical systems with a focus on atmospheric chemistry, combustion of alternative fuels, and materials design. He is also working on scientific software development on high-performance computing (HPC) platforms. He is the author and co-author of more than 100 ISI papers, 30 conference papers/talks, and 05 scientific software. He has been the recipient of a variety of awards for many years, including the VNU-HCMC Excellent Scientific Award, the VNU-HCMC Scientific Award, and the VEFFA Science Award. Also, he is a member of the Scientific Chemistry-Related Committee of the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) (2017-2019, 2020-2022, 2023-2025), Interdisciplinary Scientific Committee of the Vietnam National University - HCMC (2017-2022) and the Scientific Advisory Board of the Institute for Computational Science and Technology (ICST) (2014-2018).

Publication Opportunities

Accepted full-text articles will be published in the Springer Proceedings in Earth and Environmental Sciences (SPEES), a Scopus-indexed publication.

Outstanding papers will be selected for publication in the Journal: Experimental Biology and Medicine

Registration & Submission

Registration fee: Registration as a local participant requires uploading either a student ID or proof of residency. This fee includes the entrance ticket, lunch ticket for 4 conference days and publishing fee (if applied)

  • Local Student: $10.00 (Approximately 250,000 VND)
  • Local Faculty: $15.00 (Approximately 400,000 VND)

Detailed guidelines for abstract submissions are available on the Conference Website or downloaded here

Registration & Submission

Important Dates

  • Oral Abstract Submission Deadline: April 7, 2025
  • Poster Submission Deadline: May 25, 2025
  • Conference Dates: May 28-31, 2025

We look forward to your participation in making PBC 2025 a success!

The PBC Focus Meeting Hosts & Sponsors

Click here for details on sponsorship tiers and benefits

*The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the NIH; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.