The ocean is not only a resource but also a source of inspiration driving a scientific journey for public health
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Duc Thinh in the laboratory
Colleagues often describe Assoc.Prof.Dr. Pham Duc Thinh as not only a scientist with strong expertise but also a warm, approachable and collaborative person. He is persistent and diligent in research, constantly seeking new solutions and applying technology to practice. With a vision of sustainably and effectively utilising marine resources to develop medicinal materials and health-supporting products, his works not only hold scientific value but also offer practical applications for the community.
Assoc.Prof.Dr. Pham Duc Thinh was born in Nam Truc, Nam Dinh (now Nam Truc commune, Ninh Binh province). He was admitted to the Faculty of Chemistry, University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. After graduating in 2003, he continued along the academic path, pursuing a master’s degree at Dalat University and successfully defending his thesis in Chemistry in 2009. He was an intern at the Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry (PIBOC), Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (2008–2011), and later undertook his doctoral studies at the Institute of Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology. In 2015, he earned his PhD with the dissertation “Study on the composition and chemical structure of bioactive fucoidan from several species of brown seaweed in Nha Trang Bay”. This research direction is closely linked to the significant potential of Vietnam’s marine biological resources.
Assoc.Prof.Dr. Pham Duc Thinh conducts field sampling
Assoc.Prof.Dr.Pham Duc Thinh chose the Institute for Research and Application of Technology in Nha Trang as the starting point of his research career. Here, he had favourable conditions to pursue his passion, develop expertise and gradually build a strong research group. Throughout his career, he has undertaken numerous important scientific tasks and has led and participated in many research projects of practical significance, particularly in the exploitation and application of marine biological resources. From 2021 to 2024, he served as Director of the Institute for Research and Application of Technology in Nha Trang. In 2025, when the unit merged with the Institute of Oceanography, he was appointed Deputy Director.
His main research direction focuses on extracting, analysing the chemical structure and evaluating the biological activity of natural compounds, particularly fucoidan from brown seaweeds. Fucoidan is among the biological compounds with high application potential in medicine, pharmaceuticals and functional foods. He has published nearly 100 scientific papers in reputable national and international journals and has led and participated in over 40 research projects at various levels, mainly in the fields of biochemistry and marine biology, as well as the study and application of natural compounds in medicine.
Reflecting on his research journey, he shared: Researching bioactive compounds from marine organisms in general and fucoidan from brown seaweed in particular has never been easy. Field sampling does not always yield results as expected; sometimes the first sample is successfully extracted, but when additional samples are needed, the same species cannot be found again. In 2004–2005, when I began studying the structure and biological activity of fucoidan, the Institute lacked suitable analytical equipment. Even when samples were sent for nuclear magnetic resonance analysis, they were unsuccessful because these compounds have high molecular weight and complex structures, and no laboratory in Vietnam had experience with such analyses at that time. The turning point came during a marine science workshop at the Institute of Oceanography, where I heard a presentation by Prof.DSc. Tatyana Zvyagintseva, a leading fucoidan researcher from the Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences. Through the connection of Assoc.Prof.Dr. Bui Minh Ly, our fucoidan samples were sent to Russia for analysis. A few months later, I received the results accompanied by the confirmation from Prof. Zvyagintseva that the sample was indeed fucoidan. From this milestone, research cooperation on fucoidan from Vietnam’s brown seaweeds with Russian colleagues was established and continues to this day.
Starting with fucoidan, he and his colleagues gradually expanded their research scope, identifying many other potential bioactive compounds from marine organisms. Recent studies such as “Structural and biological activity analysis of sulfated polysaccharides from marine organisms collected during the 8th Oparin cruise” and “Chemical research and cytoprotective activity of compounds obtained from marine fungi isolated from seaweed in Nha Trang Bay” showcase new directions in discovering and applying bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential. These works clarify structures, biological activities and their relationships, opening opportunities for pharmaceutical development from marine resources in cancer prevention, anti-inflammatory treatments and cardiovascular health.
Notably, in the project “Study on the extraction of anticancer compounds from marine fungi isolated from sponges in the waters of Khanh Hoa”, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Pham Duc Thinh demonstrated the significant potential of marine fungi in developing natural anticancer agents. These compounds form the basis for creating safe, effective cancer treatments with fewer side effects. He has also engaged in studies developing enzyme systems to support the extraction of bioactive compounds from seaweed, helping optimise the production of marine-derived products. Research on polysaccharide-transforming enzymes from marine organisms aims to create oligosaccharide derivatives with enhanced biological activities while preserving their natural structural characteristics, thereby improving the efficacy and benefits of bioactive compounds. The importance of this research lies in promoting the application of enzyme technology in the food and cosmetics industries to enhance the economic value of Vietnam’s marine-based industries.
Assoc.Prof.Dr. Pham Duc Thinh with colleagues collect seaweed samples
Assoc.Prof.Dr. Pham Duc Thinh has also made significant contributions through patented inventions. Notably, he developed an extraction process for fucoidan from Vietnamese Sargassum seaweed — a sulfated polysaccharide with important biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer properties. Building on this success, in another patent, he and his colleagues developed a process for producing agar from red seaweed (Gracilaria). Agar is a strategic material used in food processing, cosmetics and biological research, but stable supply and extraction technology in Vietnam remain limited. The new process not only optimises extraction efficiency and agar quality but also contributes to establishing a sustainable value chain for the marine biotechnology industry. This marks an important step towards mastering technology and effectively exploiting marine resources.
In addition to research, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Pham Duc Thinh has authored and co-authored scientific books, including two notable works in the fields of functional foods and marine fungi. One prominent international publication is Functional Foods – Phytochemicals and Health Promoting Potential (2021), for which he contributed the chapter “Functional – Antioxidant Foods”, discussing plant antioxidant compounds and their role in reducing risks of chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disorders and neurological issues. The second book, “Marine Fungi in Central Vietnam: Diversity and Bioactive Compounds” (2024), is the result of extensive research on the biodiversity and biological potential of marine fungi in Central Vietnam. As co-author,Assoc.Prof.Dr.Pham Duc Thinh and his colleagues focused on analysing fungal strains capable of producing highly bioactive compounds such as antibacterial, antioxidant and anticancer substances, providing a scientific foundation for applications in biotechnology and medicine.
Cover of the book “Marine Fungi in Central Vietnam: Diversity and Bioactive Compounds”
As a scientist shaped by practical research and its application to production, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Pham Duc Thinh excels at linking science with practice, contributing to technology transfer for the development of the marine economy. From a managerial perspective, he also prioritises promoting interdisciplinary research, training young scientists and building a professional, modern research environment. With his passion for scientific discovery, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Pham Duc Thinh continues to make significant contributions to the advancement of marine science and biotechnology in Vietnam.
Assoc.Prof.Dr. Pham Duc Thinh (far left) with colleagues discuss a seaweed cultivation and processing project with French partners, July 2025
Regarding future plans, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Pham Duc Thinh noted that he will continue to strengthen and develop multiple strong research groups, connecting domestic and international expertise in marine biodiversity and biochemistry. The goal is to discover and develop natural marine compounds into valuable products for community health and socio-economic development. He believes that modern science requires interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaboration, and therefore places great importance on building trustworthy, sincere international partnerships, ready for knowledge sharing, new research development, human resource training and advanced technology transfer. In upcoming plans, his team will intensify the use of modern technologies for deep-sea sample surveys and collection, while developing green technologies and core techniques for extracting and synthesising bioactive compounds from marine organisms, ultimately advancing research on their biological effects and developing products with outstanding application efficiency.
Translated by Phuong Huyen
Link to Vietnamese version
