Professor Tấn joined OUCRU in 2003, and over the past two decades has grown into one of Viet Nam’s leading scientists in emerging infectious diseases. In 2025, he was appointed Full Professor at the University of Oxford.
His work has centered on helping Viet Nam prepare for and respond to emerging infectious threats, from avian influenza, hand, foot and mouth disease, and COVID-19, to measles and mpox. In close partnership with the Hospital for Tropical Diseases (HTD), Children’s Hospital 1, Institute of Pasteur in Nha Trang, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE), Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, Ho Chi Minh City Centre for Disease Control (HCDC), and other local partners, his team has strengthened rapid testing, genomic surveillance, serum banking, and outbreak response systems to provide timely evidence for public health decision-making.
Under his leadership, the reach of OUCRU’s work has extended well beyond Viet Nam. One of international Consortia he is currently leading is the SEACOVARIANTS, a Wellcome-funded regional initiative building capacity for surveillance and epidemic preparedness. SEACOVARIANTS was instrumental in OUCRU and the Hospital for Tropical Diseases being designated a WHO CoViNet reference laboratory for coronavirus surveillance in 2026.
Professor Tấn’s appointment recognises his scientific leadership, his long-standing partnerships in Viet Nam, and his commitment to training the next generation of Vietnamese researchers.
Professor J. Kevin Baird remains Interim Programme Director of OUCRU, overseeing its four units in Viet Nam, Indonesia and Nepal.
Professor Tấn’s appointment has been warmly welcomed by partners and collaborators.
Dr Nguyen Thanh Dung, Director of the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City, said:
“On behalf of the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, I would like to warmly congratulate Professor Lê Văn Tấn on his appointment as Interim Director of OUCRU Ho Chi Minh City. We are confident that, under his leadership, the strong relationship between our two institutions will continue to make meaningful contributions to research, surveillance and response to infectious diseases in Viet Nam.”
Professor Lin-Fa Wang, Programme in Emerging Infectious Disease, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, said:
“Congratulations to Tan for being appointed the interim director of OUCRU HCMC. I have worked with Tan for a decade on many different levels, from personal collaboration, national program (PRPEPARE) to regional consortium and WHO Collaborative Open Research Consortium (CORC) on coronaviruses. OUCRU HCMC is one of the most important centers for ID research and outbreak responses in the region. I am looking forward to closer collaborations with Tan and OUCRU HCMC.”
Professor Lê Văn Tấn said:
“I am humbled by OUCRU HCMC’s remarkable achievements over the past 35 years. I look forward to working closely with my colleagues at OUCRU, and the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, and our many partners over the next years to continue delivering our vision, advancing science and developing future leaders in Vietnam.”
OUCRU warmly congratulates Professor Tấn on this appointment and looks forward to his leadership in OUCRU Ho Chi Minh City.
