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Breakthroughs at the bench with postdoctoral fellow Dr. Toan Nguyen
Summary:
Meet the postdoctoral fellow whose research offers a promising approach for quickly predicting a rare genetic condition.
This story is part of PROPEL, a series exploring the life and research of postdoctoral fellows at SickKids.
Behind every eureka moment there are hours spent in labs, bent over benches, working with highly technical equipment – all with the hope of reaching new scientific milestones. One researcher working toward the next genomics breakthrough is Dr. Toan Nguyen.
A postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Evgueni (Zhenya) Ivakine’s lab at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Nguyen is relatively new to genome editing. His previous research was focused on lipids in pre-clinical models, but in the last year Nguyen has investigated how genetic variation influences observable traits in people with a severe neurological condition called Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC). The condition is rare, affecting approximately 1 in 120,000 people globally, and generally manifests as increasing neurodegeneration.
Individuals can develop NPC at various ages, ranging from early childhood to adulthood. Nguyen’s research focuses on understanding how variations in the NPC1 gene could potentially be used to predict the age of onset and severity of the condition, with the ultimate goal of developing precision therapeutics targeted to specific variations.
Called by genetic excellence at SickKids
From the discovery of the gene for cystic fibrosis to, just this year, demystifying the genetic causes of cerebral palsy, geneticists at SickKids are well-known for helping to shape a better future for many children with genetic conditions.
“I chose SickKids because of the SickKids Research Institute’s reputation for genetic excellence, and, after I arrived, I found that there was even more than a good reputation on offer,” he says. “Dr. Ivakine gave me the freedom to pursue my own research interests.”
Before joining SickKids, Nguyen was a postdoctoral fellow in Singapore at Nanyang Technological University. Originally from Vietnam, Nguyen moved with his family to Toronto in 2023 to continue his postdoctoral training.
Instead of assigning Nguyen to a single project, Ivakine, a Scientist in the Genetics & Genome Biology program, asked Nguyen to start off with some general reading in the field to help him formulate a new research question.
“That’s one of the things I like about Ivakine: he is an open-minded supervisor. He’ll let you think through and plan on your own first and then give good instructions later if you ‘fail’.”
Recently, the Ivakine lab developed a technique called saturation prime editing using high-tech equipment available in The Centre for Applied Genomics (TCAG). The technique can be applied to predict the risk of developing certain conditions at a molecular level. Nguyen’s research aims to develop a screening tool using saturation prime editing that could predict genotype-phenotype correlations for NPC1.
A knowledge-sharing culture
Nguyen, who now teaches other lab members how to engineer small circles of DNA (scientifically referred to as minicircle DNA) to use alongside saturation prime editing, believes in treating all members of his team equally, whether they are students, staff or fellow scientists.
He is known for his youthful enthusiasm in the lab, often making jokes and contributing to a more positive work environment. His philosophy is simple, and what he attributes his success to: whatever he has learned in the past, he is eager to share.
“Toan is very involved in both the lab and out. My research would not be where it is currently without his help, and I know others in the lab would agree,” says Sydney Steiman, a PhD student in the Ivakine lab who works with Nguyen.
Research highlights
As scientists identify the clinical and genetic information needed to fully understand NPC1, Toan is optimistic that his research findings will benefit scientists investigating different rare conditions. In the future, he hopes to open his own gene-editing lab in Vietnam.
Work alongside renowned researchers
The Research Training Centre (RTC) offers trainees hands-on opportunities to contribute to some of the most important research projects in Canada and to work with top scientists.