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Nguyen (Nathan) Vo has a PhD in Biology from the University of Waterloo (UW). He received the W.B. Pearson Medal for creative doctoral research. Following his doctorate, he conducted further scientific research at McMaster University, WLU, UW, and the University of Windsor.
Vo's research activities are interdisciplinary and diverse. He had formal academic training in cell biology and virology. His research portfolio has since expanded to include scholarship in immunology (antiviral immunity), radiation biology (radiation effects on human cancer cells and non-human biota), and forensic science.
He is the recipient of the 2025 Early Career Award from the Society for In Vitro Biology for recognition of his "significant and original of basic and/or applied research contributions in the area of in vitro biology".
In 2021, Vo conducted community-based research at UW where he studied COVID-19 antibody immunity in a campus population and in hospitalized patient cohorts. This project is part of the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force by the Government of Canada. One peer-reviewed primary research paper is published from this project: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772613425000022?via%3Dihub
Vo is an Associate Editor of the In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology - Animal journal. He is also a member of the Editorial Boards of Developmental and Comparative Immunology journal, Comparative Immunology Reports journal, and Frontiers in Immunology - section Comparative Immunology journal.
Prior to 2022, Vo taught undergraduate courses in the Faculty of Science and Faculty of Human and Social Sciences at WLU. He also taught a Medical Physics undergraduate/graduate course in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and a Life Sciences undergraduate course in the School of Interdisciplinary Science at McMaster University. In 2020, he received the Ontario Minister of Colleges and Universities' Award of Excellence for university teaching excellence.
Vo joined the Department of Health Studies at WLU as a full-time faculty member in 2022. He teaches Applied Health Sciences courses and Physical Forensics courses.
I study health at the cellular and molecular levels. A major part of my research approach relies on the development of in vitro methods and novel cell culture systems from lower vertebrate animal models for basic research and applications in cell biology, virology, immunology, radiation biology and environmental toxicology. A particular interest is to develop and characterize hematopoietic cell cultures that have the capacity to generate dendritic cells (a type of immune cells that perform antigen presentation and are essential in the activation of adaptive immune responses).
- Early Career Award, Society for In Vitro Biology (2025)
- Ontario Minister of Colleges and Universities’ Award of Excellence, the Goverment of Ontario (2020)
- Young Alumnus of the Year Award of Excellence, Wilfrid Laurier University (2017)
- W.B. Pearson Medal, University of Waterloo (2015)
- Governor General’s Academic Bronze Medal (2006)
Dr. Vo supports student research positions. He fosters a stimulating interdisciplinary learning environment in his research group. He welcomes students from different academic and personal backgrounds to develop research projects with him, especially to enrich their studies with further scientific education and training. Highly motivated and scientifically curious students are encouraged to contact Dr. Vo for available research positions. Students can choose to pursue scientific research that involves lab work and data collection or research that focuses on literature-based knowledge inquiry and discovery.
Science students interested in lab-based research projects will learn techniques in cell and tissue culture, cytology, microscopy, immunochemistry, molecular biology, quantitative analyses, and in vitro bioassay development.
Possible opportunities may be available for students to do research via course credits that count towards their degree completion and graduation requirements. Dr. Vo supports student research via a two-semester thesis course (e.g. UU499) and one-semester directed studies courses (e.g. HS412).
- Monjo A, Rodríguez-Ramos T, Bruder MR, Vo NTK, Oremus M, Stinson K, Dixon B, Aucoin MG (2025). Serological responses to SARS-CoV-2 in vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals: a Canadian study. Clinical Immunol. Commun. 7:39-46.
- Vo NTK*, Sever L, Dixon B, Bols NC (2025). A novel tissue culture method to produce professional antigen-presenting cells from rainbow trout in vitro. Comp. Immunol. Rep. 200205. *corresponding author
- Todd LA, Le Dreff-Kerwin E, Bui-Marinos MP, Dharmasiddhi IPW, Vo NTK, Katzenback BA (2024). Development and use of two Xenopus laevis spleen stromal cell lines to study the role of splenic stromal cells in anuran immune processes. Mol. Immunol. 176:96-110.
- Vo NTK*, DeWitte-Orr SJ (2023). Cytotoxicity of the field lampricide 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) in tadpole cell lines from North American frogs. In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol. – Animal 59(10):790-795. *corresponding author
- Vo NTK*, Alkie TN, Cuesta A, Edholm E-S (2023). Editorial: In Vitro Cellular Technologies for Advancing Research in Anamniote Vertebrate Immunology. Front. Immunol. 14:1277466. *corresponding author
- Vo NTK*, Leis E, DeWitte-Orr SJ (2023). Hypersensitive response to interferon-stimulated gene (ISG)-inducing double-stranded RNA in American bullfrog tadpole fibroblasts. Dev. Comp. Immunol. 148:104918. *corresponding author
- Matarèse BFE, Rahmoune H, Vo NTK, Seymour C, Schofield PN, Mothersill E (2023). X-ray-induced bio-acoustic emissions from cultured cells. Int. J. Radiat. Biol. 99(8):1285-1290.
- Vo NTK*, Singh H, Stuart M, Seymour CB, Mothersill CE (2022). A pilot study of radiation-induced bystander effect in radio-adapting frogs at a radiologically contaminated site located on the Chalk River Laboratories property. Int. J. Radiat. Biol. 98(6):1139-1146. (also published as Chapter 15 in the book entitled "Environmental Radiobiology" 1st edition (2024) Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group. https://www.routledge.com/Environmental-Radiobiology/Schofield-Mothersill/p/book/9781032557687) *corresponding author
- Mothersill CE, Oughton DH, Schofield PN, Abend M, Adam-Guillermin C, Ariyoshi K, Beresford NA, Bonisoli-Alquati A, Cohen J, Dubrova Y, Geras'kin SA, Hevrøy TH, Higley KA, Horemans N, Jha AN, Kapustka LA, Kiang JG, Madas BG, Powathil G, Sarapultseva EI, Seymour CB, Vo NTK, Wood MD (2022). From tangled banks to toxic bunnies; a reflection on the issues involved in developing an ecosystem approach for environmental radiation protection. Int. J. Radiat. Biol. 98(6):1185-1200. (also published as Chapter 20 in the book entitled "Environmental Radiobiology" 1st edition (2024) Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group. https://www.routledge.com/Environmental-Radiobiology/Schofield-Mothersill/p/book/9781032557687)
- Vo NTK (2022). Environmental radiobiology of amphibians – knowledge gaps to be filled using cell lines. Int. J. Radiat. Biol. 98(6):1034-1046. (also published as Chapter 5 in the book entitled "Environmental Radiobiology" 1st edition (2024) Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group. https://www.routledge.com/Environmental-Radiobiology/Schofield-Mothersill/p/book/9781032557687)
- Vo NTK (2022). The sine qua non of the fish invitrome today and tomorrow in environmental radiobiology. Int. J. Radiat. Biol. 98(6):1025-1033. (also published as Chapter 4 in the book entitled "Environmental Radiobiology" 1st edition (2024) Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group. https://www.routledge.com/Environmental-Radiobiology/Schofield-Mothersill/p/book/9781032557687)
- Vukmirovic D, Vo NTK, Seymour C, Rollo D, Mothersill C (2021). Influence of common dietary supplements (curcumin, andrographolide, and d-limonene) on the radiobiological responses of p53-competent colonic cancer epithelial cells. Int. J. Radiat. Biol. 97(3): 341-347
- Potter G, Smith AST, Vo NTK, Muster J, Weston W, Bertero A, Maves L, Mack DL, Rostain A (2020). A more open approach is needed to develop cell-based fish technology: It starts with zebrafish. One Earth. 3:54-64.
- Cohen J, Vo NTK*, Chettle D, McNeill FE, Seymour CB, Mothersill CE (2020). Quantifying biophoton emissions from human cells directly exposed to low-dose gamma radiation. Dose Response 18(2): 1559325820926763. *corresponding author
- Curtis JJ, Vo NTK, Seymour CB, Mothersill CE (2020). 5-HT2A and 5-HT3 receptors contribute to the exacerbation of targeted and non-targeted effects of ionizing radiation-induced cell death in human colon carcinoma cells. Int. J. Radiat. Biol. 96(4):482-490.
- Curtis JJ, Vo NTK, Seymour CB, Mothersill CE (2020). Serotonin and 5-HT3 receptors sensitize human skin cells to direct irradiation cell death but not to soluble radiation-induced bystander signals. Environ. Res. 180:108807.
- Hancock S, Vo NTK, Goncharova RI, Seymour CB, Byun SH, Mothersill CE (2020). One-decade-spanning transgenerational effects of historic radiation dose in wild populations of bank voles exposed to radioactive contamination following the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Environ. Res. 180:108816.
- Hancock S, Vo NTK, Omar-Nazir L, Batlle JV, Otaki JM, Hiyama A, Byun SH, Seymore CB, Mothersill CE (2019). Transgenerational effects of historic radiation dose in pale grass blue butterflies around Fukushima following the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant meltdown accident. Environ. Res. 168:230-240.
- Drieschner C, Vo NTK, Schug H, Burkard M, Bols NC, Renaud P, Schirmer K (2019). Improving a fish intestinal barrier model by combining two rainbow trout cell lines: epithelial RTgutGC and fibroblastic RTgutF. Cytotechnology 71(4):835-848.
- Vukmirovic D, Vo NTK, Seymour C, Rollo D, Mothersill C (2019). Characterization of radioprotective, radiomitigative and bystander signaling modulating effects of endogenous metabolites – phenylacetate, ursodeoxycholate and tauroursodeoxycholate - on HCT116 human colon carcinoma cell line. Radiat. Res. 192(1):28-39.
- Cohen J, Vo NTK, Seymour CB, Mothersill CE (2019). Parallel comparison of pre-conditioning and post-conditioning effects in human cancers and keratinocytes upon acute gamma irradiation. Int. J. Radiat. Biol. 95(2):170-178.
- Vo NTK, Everson J, Moore L, DeWitte-Orr SJ (2019). Class A scavenger receptor expression and function in eight novel tadpole cell lines from the green frog (Lithobates clamitans) and the wood frog (Lithobates sylvatica). Cytotechnology 71(4):757–768.
- Vo NTK, Shahid M, Seymour CB, Mothersill CE (2019). Effects of dose rate on the reproductive cell death and early mitochondrial membrane potential in different human epithelium-derived cells exposed to gamma rays. Dose Response 17(2):1559325819852508.
- Vo NTK, Guerreiro M, Yaparla A, Grayfer L, DeWitte-Orr SJ (2019). Class A scavenger receptors are used by Frog Virus 3 during its cellular entry. Viruses 11(2):93.
- Vo NTK, Moore L, Leis E, DeWitte-Orr SJ (2019). Class A scavenger receptors mediate extracellular dsRNA sensing, leading to downstream antiviral gene expression in a novel American toad cell line, BufoTad. Dev. Comp. Immunol. 92:140–149.
- Vo NTK, Seymour CB, Mothersill CE (2019). The common field lampricide 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol is a potential radiosensitizer in fish cells. Environ. Res. 170:383–388.
- Vo NTK, Seymour CB, Mothersill CE (2019). Radiobiological characteristics of descendant progeny of fish and amphibian cells that survive the initial gamma radiation dose. Environ. Res. 169:494-500.
- Sever L, Vo NTK, Bols NC, Dixon B (2018). Tapasin’s protein interactions in the rainbow trout peptide-loading complex. Dev. Comp. Immunol. 81:262-270.
- Vo NTK, Moore L, Spiteri KW, Hanner R, Wilkie M, DeWitte-Orr SJ (2018). Assessing off-target cytotoxicity of the field lampricide 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol using novel lake sturgeon cell lines. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 162:536-545.
- Vo NTK, Sokeechand BSH, Seymour CB, Mothersill CE (2017). Influence of chronic low-dose/dose-rate high-LET irradiation from Radium-226 in a human colorectal carcinoma cell line. Environ. Res. 156:697-704.
- Vo NTK, Seymour CB, Mothersill CE (2017). Dose rate effects of low-LET ionizing radiation on fish cells. Radiat. Environ. Biophys. 56(4):433-441.
- Lisser GJ, Vo NTK, DeWitte-Orr SJ (2017). Delineating the roles of cellular and innate antiviral immune parameters mediating ranavirus susceptibility using rainbow trout cell lines. Virus Res. 238:114-123.
- Vo NTK, Bols NC (2016). Demonstration of primary cilia and acetylated α-tubulin in fish endothelial, epithelial and fibroblast cell lines. Fish Physiol. Biochem. 42(1):29-38.
- Vo NTK, Chen C, Lee LEJ, Lumsden JS, Dixon B, Bols NC (2015). Development and characterization of an endothelial cell line from the bulbus arteriosus of walleye, Sander vitreus. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A Mol. Integr. Physiol. 180:57-67.
- Vo NTK, Mikhaeil MS, Lee LEJ, Pham PH, Bols NC (2015). Senescence-associated -galactosidase staining in fish cell lines and primary cultures from several tissues and species, including rainbow trout coelomic fluid and milt. In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol. – Animal 51:361-371
- Gignac SJ, Vo NTK, Mikhaeil MS, Alexander JAN, MacLatchy DL, Schulte PM, Lee LEJ (2014). Derivation of a continuous myogenic cell culture from embryos of common killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A Mol. Integr. Physiol. 175:15-27.
- Sever L, Vo NTK, Lumsden JS, Bols NC, Dixon B (2014). Induction of MH class I and accessory proteins by viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus. Mol. Immunol. 59:154-162.
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Curtis TM, Howard A, Gerlach B, Brennan LM, Widder MW, van der Schalie WH, Vo NTK, Bols NC (2013). Suitability of invertebrate and vertebrate cells in a portable impedance-based toxicity sensor: temperature mediated impacts on long-term survival. Tox. In Vitro 27(7):2061-2066.
Health Studies courses:
- HS103 Introduction to Forensic Science
- HS204 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
- HS206 Genetics and the Human Genome
- HS300 Infection and Immunity
- HS333 Forensic Laboratory Methods I
- HS334 Forensic Laboratory Methods II
- HS412 Directed Studies
Biology courses:
- BI110 Unifying Life Processes
- BI111 Biological Diversity and Evolution
- BI236 Cell Biology
Chemistry and Biochemistry courses:
- CH111 Fundamentals of Chemistry II
- CH121 Introduction to Chemical Kinetics and Equilibrium
Health Sciences course:
- HE432/BI470 Biomedical Virology
Law and Society course:
- LY385 Directed Studies
Contact Info:
E: nvo@wlu.ca
Office location: RCE254
Office hours:
By appointment.
Languages spoken: English, Vietnamese