Ngo Thi Minh Thuy, a former contestant from the second season of "Road to Mount Olympia," is now an associate professor at the Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University in the United States.
During the 25th anniversary celebration of "Road to Mount Olympia," audiences were delighted to reunite with many former contestants, including some who had participated over 20 years ago. Among them was Associate Professor Dr. Ngo Thi Minh Thuy, a contestant from the show’s second season.
Speaking at the event, Thuy shared that she grew up in a poor rural area of Thai Nguyen province, and competing in Olympia was a turning point in her life.
“Participating in Olympia opened up an entirely new world to me,” she recalled. “It was my first time visiting the capital, appearing on national television, and most importantly, interacting with so many talented peers.”
Associate Professor Dr. Ngo Thi Minh Thuy, once a contestant on the second season of "Road to Mount Olympia," is now working at the Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, USA. Image captured from video.
Though her journey in the competition ended at the monthly round, the experience left a profound impression.
“At the time, I realized how many brilliant students there were,” she said. “I admired them, and from that admiration grew a strong desire to become as capable as they were. That sparked my ambition to go beyond the village and explore the world.”
After years of academic dedication, Associate Professor Dr. Ngo Thi Minh Thuy now works at the Knight Cancer Institute under Oregon Health & Science University in the US.
Her research focuses on early cancer detection through blood testing.
“In simple terms,” Thuy explained, “tumors, as they grow, must communicate with other cancer cells and organs by sending out signals. These signals are released into the bloodstream.”
“There’s also another mechanism. As tumor cells proliferate rapidly, they also die quickly. Both mechanisms release genetic materials or communication markers into the blood. Our goal is to identify and decode these signals, even at extremely low concentrations.”
Associate Professor Dr. Ngo Thi Minh Thuy at her lab in the Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, USA. Screenshot from VTV video.
Thuy’s lab is pioneering RNA analysis and has patented a technology that restores genetic data recorded in blood-based DNA. Using these foundational technologies, she develops specific cancer detection tests.
“Our lab has successfully developed a number of testing methods and protocols for various cancers, including notoriously difficult ones like pancreatic cancer,” she said.
Thuy’s breakthroughs were recognized as one of the top ten impactful biomedical research findings in 2019 and 2020.
To date, her research team has received several awards acknowledging their innovative solutions to critical medical challenges.
“Like many other scientists and tech companies, I hope to contribute to a future where cancer is no longer seen as a death sentence,” she shared. “That is also the future vision for global medicine.”
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