I came to the United States in 1975 as a Vietnamese refugee. I have had quite the journey—from studying at the University of Illinois at Urbana to traveling halfway around the world to volunteer with the U.S. Peace Corps in Nepal. After returning, I earned a Ph.D. in Cell Biology and Anatomy at LSU Health Science Center (LSUHSC) in New Orleans. I joined the faculty in the Departments of Ophthalmology and Genetics at LSUHSC in New Orleans, diving deep into dry eye research, peripheral nerve regeneration, and bioinformatics. But the entrepreneurial spirit took over, leading to the co-founding of Innovative Food and Biotechnology Group, where I served as Chief Operating Officer. Then, I was back to research—this time at Ochsner Medical Center as a Staff Scientist/ Assistant Professor, focusing on translational research in peripheral nerve regeneration, hemorrhagic stroke, and epilepsy. Along the way, I took on roles as IBC Chair and IRB member, submitted multiple patent applications, and played a key role in securing NIH and DOD grants as both Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator. From academia to biotech, I thrive at the intersection of science, innovation, and discovery.
