Personal profile
Research expertise
Thao-Thy Pham (Thy) is a biomedical researcher driven by a deep commitment to improving global health and exploring the unknown. With over ten years of experience in tropical immunology, she has developed extensive expertise in the immunopathology of parasitic diseases. Her PhD focused on malaria immunology using both in vivo and in vitro models, and her current research investigates host–parasite interactions in clinical Leishmania infections, with a particular focus on T-cell responses.
Her current work is conducted in close collaboration with Ethiopian partners and is embedded within capacity-strengthening initiatives to foster sustainable research environments. Current studies span from fundamental single-cell and spatial transcriptomic analyses to translational research testing new vaccine candidate targets.
As part of the ITM Leishmania Centre (link), Thy is recognized for her strong organizational and communication skills, which contribute to positive, collaborative, and productive work environments. Her attentive supervision, proactive mindset, and adaptability enable efficient troubleshooting and effective team coordination.
Education/Academic qualification
Malaria Immunology, PhD in Biomedical Sciences, The pathogenic role of hemozoin and endothelial activation in malaria-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome, KU Leuven
Aug-2014 → May-2020
Fundamental research, Master in Biomedical Sciences, Master thesis: Hemozoin in the mouse model for malaria-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome, KU Leuven
Sept-2012 → Jun-2014
Bachelor in Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven
Sept-2009 → Sept-2012
Keywords
- B500-immunology
- B780-tropical-medicine
- Leishmaniasis
- Malaria
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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CLT-protex: Establishing the immunogenicity of the first naturally presented Leishmania epitope vaccine candidates in Ethiopian cutaneous leishmaniasis
Adriaensen, W. (Promotor) & Pham, T. (PI)
1/09/24 → 31/08/26
Project: Research Project
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VL-INNO: Next generation diagnostics and oral treatment for visceral leishmaniasis in Eastern Africa: transforming patient care through innovation
Pham, T. (Researcher) & Adriaensen, W. (Promotor)
The European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership
1/10/21 → 31/12/25
Project: Research Project
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A framework to deduce the convoluted repertoire and epitope hierarchy of human T cell responses in visceral leishmaniasis: patient meets in silico
de Vrij, N. (PhD Student), van Griensven, J. (Promotor), Adriaensen, W. (Copromotor), Laukens, K. (Promotor), Cuypers, B. (Copromotor), Cuypers, B. (Copromotor) & Pham, T. (Researcher)
3/11/20 → 18/06/25
Project: PhD-project
Research output
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Breaking the deadlock in antigen discovery for Leishmania vaccines
Adriaensen, W., De Vrij, N., Pham, T.-T., Laukens, K., Meysman, P. & Kaye, P. M., Mar-2026, In: Trends In Parasitology. 42, 3, p. 183-191 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › A1: Peer-reviewed journal articles › peer-review
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From dogma to data: charting a path forward for clinico-immunological research in Ethiopian cutaneous leishmaniasis
Spatial CL Consortium, 16-Jan-2026, In: Infectious Diseases of Poverty. 15, 1, 10 p., 10.Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review
Open Access -
Immunopeptidomics of cutaneous leishmaniasis patients reveals the natural antigenic landscape
de Vrij, N., Pepermans, E., Laurijssen, L., Pham, T.-T., Thijs, L., Boonen, K., Ramadan, K., Maes, I., Aleka, Y., Kassa, M., Mekonnen, T., Asres, M. S., Woldetensay, M., Hassen, S., Bialfew, F., Tilahun Zewdu, F., Abdela, S. G., Domagalska, M. A., Cuypers, B. & van Henten, S. & 5 others, , 20-Feb-2026, In: Frontiers in Immunology. 17, 15 p., 1765843.Research output: Contribution to journal › A1: Peer-reviewed journal articles › peer-review
Open Access -
No distinct cytokine, chemokine, and growth factor blood profile associated with Monkeypox virus clade IIb infected patients
Bangwen, E., Berens-Riha, N., de Vrij, N., Ceulemans, A., Brosius, I., De Vos, E., Pham, T., Bottieau, E., van Griensven, J., Netongo, P., Van Esbroeck, M., Vercauteren, K., Van Dijck, C., Adriaensen, W. & Liesenborghs, L., Apr-2025, In: Journal of Medical Virology. 97, 4, 11 p., e70320.Research output: Contribution to journal › A1: Peer-reviewed journal articles › peer-review
Open Access -
A preliminary indication that HLA-A*03:01 may be associated with visceral leishmaniasis development in people living with HIV in Ethiopia
de Vrij, N., Vandoren, R., Ramadan, K., Van Hul, A., Ceulemans, A., Kassa, M., Melkamu, R., Yeshanew, A., Bogale, T., Beyene, H., Sisay, K., Kibret, A., Mersha, D., Cuypers, W., Vogt, F., van Henten, S., Ritmeijer, K., Pham, T., Meysman, P. & Laukens, K. & 5 others, , 2024, In: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 18, 9, 17 p., e0012000.Research output: Contribution to journal › A1: Peer-reviewed journal articles › peer-review
Open Access