Kovalevskaia Prize Winners– Journey from heart to life

Born in 1952, Assoc. Prof., Dr. Dang Thi Cam Ha is known as a scientist who has devoted her whole life to deal with environmental pollution. She has coordinated with her students, colleagues for many successful researches o­n cleaning environment at low cost.

Particularly, for more than 10 years, this scientist has been pursuing research in the handling of soil contaminated with dioxin herbicides used by the US in Bien Hoa and Da Nang during the war. When starting her study, Mrs. Ha faced some incredulity from many friends and colleagues at home and abroad. At such times, she would say "We'll find out within 10 years."

Since starting her research in 1999, Mrs. Cam Ha has been at the two worst dioxin contaminated airports in Vietnam every few weeks or month. As a result, after 10 years of researching and 27 months of application, more than 3,300 m3 of dioxin-affected soil have been treated. According to an analysis by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the total toxicity fell down dramatically to 99.48%.

Assoc. Prof., Dr. Cam Ha said, there is no comparable research in the world for effective decontamination of soil with dioxin by biotech and in large scale as in Vietnam until now. Mrs. Ha said that she will continue her research to improve the effectiveness of this method to reduce dioxin risk affecting Vietnamese families.

Dr. Doctor Pham Thi Ngoc Thao - "A life buoy" for dialysis patients

Years ago, every day, Hospital (BV) Cho Ray received many cases of septic shock and multi-organ failure leading toacute pancreatitis. It is heartbreaking that there are three fatalities out of four patients hospitalized for this disease, which obsessed Dr. Pham Thi Ngoc Thao - Deputy Director of Cho Ray Hospital, who is also in charge of the intensive care at the hospital.

“Since 2001, artificial kidney departments in many hospitals have adopted several methods of interrupting dialysis in the treatment. However, this method may cause hypotension, incomplete and ineffective dialysis process”, said Dr. Ngoc Thao.

With this concern, Dr. Thao embarked o­n the research o­n "Efficiency of continuous dialysis in patients with bacterial infection, multi-organ failure, and acute pancreatitis", in order to open up survival opportunities for these patients. During two years of research, the greatest difficulty faced by Dr. Thao was unaffordability to the patient. She said: "In the early stage of the research, the technical equipment such as dialysis machines, filters were not paid by health insurance resulting in high costs of application. o­nly whenthis method proved its effectiveness,its partial costs were covered by insurance. Now, most patients can benefit from this technique at the best price ".

Before this method is available, many patients spent a lot of money for overseas treatment. The new method has reduced not o­nly the costs for patients, but more importantly, the risk of death from septic shock, multiple organ failure, and acute pancreatitis. At Cho Ray Hospital, the mortality rate went down from 75% to 49% thanks to the application of this method. "Although the mortality rate is still high, a decrease of 25% for such a dangerous disease is a remarkable figure," Dr. Thao said.

And now the method is widely applied.Especially with the new membrane filtration technology it can filter more toxins. Also, this method has been applied effectively in virus-infected patients and patients with severe bee sting.

Apart from this success, Dr. Pham Thi Ngoc Thao is also the owner of a series of practical researches helping improving the treatment for example in kidney and liver transplantation.

Many people have asked her about her “successful tips”, she simply answered: "I just do my best and do the job I love." However, Dr. Thao also confirmed her family’s support is a treasure for women working in science like her.

Dr. Doctor Pham Thi Ngoc Thao