Assoc. Prof. Dr Tran Van Khanh, winner of the Kovalevskaya Award 2017. (Photo: vnexpress.net)
Hanoi (VNA) – A gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)study by Assoc. Prof. Dr Tran Van Khanh, which supports prenatal diagnosis of DMDto prevent genetic disorders, has earned the scientist the Kovalevskaya Award2017.
Khanh, born in 1973, is head of the Faculty of Molecular Pathology and DeputyDirector of Gen-Protein Research Centre under the Hanoi Medical University. Shehas attained several achievements in research on gene therapy and prenataldiagnosis of genetic diseases.
The results of her study on gene therapy for DMD won high praise from the Ministryof Science and Technology and were also publicised in two foreign sciencemagazines.
To date, her genetic therapy has been carried out on 1,000 patients and theirfamily members that helps detect healthy people carrying the genetic diseases.
DMD is the most common fatal genetic disease that affects approximately one inevery 3,500 new born boys. A steady decline in muscle strength occurs at theage of 6 and 11 and by 12 years many children are confined to a wheelchair.People with Duchenne have shorter lives, most die by the age of 20 due to heartand breathing problems.
The Kovalevskaya Awards is an annual ceremony to honour the most outstandingfemale scientists who have gained remarkable achievements in the research andapplication of science. This year’s event is scheduled for March 6.
The prestigious prize is named after the Russian female mathematician, SofiaKovalevskaya, and is awarded by the fund of the same name. The fund operates ineight countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia.-VNA
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