For the first time, a Vietnamese female scientist received a UNESCO award.

According to the VNA correspondent in France, Dr. Tran Ha Lien Phuong, lecturer at the Faculty of Biomedical Technology at the International University under the Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, was honored to receive the "Young Talented Scientist of the World" award presented by the L'Oréal-UNESCO Foundation (For the Development of Women in Science).

This is the first time a Vietnamese female scientist has been honored at this award.

Dr. Tran Ha Lien Phuong introduces research on cancer treatment by exploiting nanotechnology.

Dr. Tran Ha Lien Phuong is one of 15 female scientists selected by the Jury of 12 prestigious international scientists from 236 candidates worldwide.

Her research on fucoidan-containing micelles for cancer treatment is highly appreciated for its effective treatment ability, low cost and few side effects.

The nanotechnology research she and her colleagues are conducting opens up the possibility of new treatments that deliver drugs to the exact location of cancer cells while leaving other cells unharmed.

Dr. Tran Ha Lien Phuong, 34 years old, graduated from Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, completed her doctoral thesis at Kangwon National University, Korea.

Speaking at the award ceremony held on March 18 in Paris, Dr. Tran Ha Lien Phuong said she was extremely happy and moved to be the first Vietnamese woman to receive the “Young Talented Scientist” award presented by the L'Oréal-UNESCO Foundation.

The doctor said that this award is a great encouragement for her and her colleagues in the research group at Ho Chi Minh City National University, and also provides additional financial resources for the group to continue further research in cancer treatment.

She also stressed the need to create drugs that are not only effective but also affordable for the benefit of patients in developing countries.

Also at the ceremony, the L'Oréal-UNESCO Foundation honored five outstanding female scientists representing five regions of the world: Africa and the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and North America, for their groundbreaking discoveries in the natural sciences.

Five female scientists from Morocco, China, UK, Brazil, Canada have conducted research in the fields of high-energy physics-nuclear physics, nanotechnology, mass spectrometry-structural biology, physics and astronomy, and polymer chemistry.

Speaking at a press conference before the award ceremony, a representative of the L'Oréal-UNESCO Foundation said that each female laureate is a shining example in the field of science. They are proving every day that women can make a great contribution to the advancement of science - a field that is still dominated by men.

With the aim of honoring outstanding female scientists and supporting talented young researchers around the world, the L'Oréal-UNESCO Science Prize programme has so far honored 2,250 talented women in more than 110 countries.

According to Vietnam+