IAST Institute Researchers Awarded 4 NAFOSTED Grants in Round 2 of 2025

On December 29, 2025, the Board of Trustees of the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) issued Decision No. 66/QĐ-HĐQL-NAFOSTED, approving the list of basic research projects for Round 2 of 2025. Ton Duc Thang University (TDTU) continues to affirm its position as a leading research institution with numerous funded projects. Notably, scientists from the Institute for Advanced Study in Technology (IAST) were awarded funding for 4 new projects.

Over the past decade, NAFOSTED has become a symbol of innovation in scientific management mechanisms in Vietnam. With a mission to create a transparent and integrated academic environment, NAFOSTED has successfully shifted from an administrative allocation mechanism to a merit-based funding model focused on capacity and research output.

In 2025, the Foundation continued to leave a strong mark by optimizing review processes and encouraging high-risk research directions to foster breakthroughs. NAFOSTED’s companionship provides not only essential financial resources but also serves as a "benchmark" of prestige, affirming the quality of research groups within the international scientific community. This, in turn, encourages a spirit of dedication and boldness in scientific research.

TDTU is consistently among the top institutions receiving NAFOSTED funding. This success is attributed to the University's maximum support and a systematic investment strategy for key science and technology sectors. A prime example is the Institute for Advanced Study in Technology (IAST), a unit that, over the past 5 years, has not only led in the number of approved projects but also established absolute credibility with the Foundation through 17 successfully completed projects that achieved superior professional quality.

Thanks to this solid track record of ensuring progress and quality in project completion, IAST - TDTU continues to receive the trust of NAFOSTED with 4 new projects approved in this round. This is a valuable resource that fuels two specialized research directions led by Dr. Man Minh Tan and Dr. Ngo Son Tung, and creates a "launchpad" for bold, exploratory ideas from potential young scientists led by Dr. Le Thi Kim Dung and Dr. Le Nguyen Minh Thong. Specifically:

1. Advanced Development Projects:

• Investigating Amyloid-β Oligomers and Inhibitor Interactions via Artificial Intelligence Models and Physics-Based Methods (Principal Investigator: Dr. Son Tung Ngo, Code: 103.01-2025.119)
• Research on Fabrication and Optoelectronic Characterizations of Sn-Based Double Perovskites toward Photonic Applications. (Principal Investigator: Dr. Man Minh Tan, Code: 103.03-2025.133)

2. Exploratory Projects:

• Computationally design metal-based nanoparticles deposited on MXene for intensification of sensing signal towards volatile organic compounds. (Principal Investigator: Dr. Le Nguyen Minh Thong, Code: 103.01-2025.146)
• Screening of compounds with alpha-glucosidase inhibitory, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic activities from two Artocarpus species: in vitro, in vivo, and in silico (Principal Investigator: Dr. Le Thi Kim Dung, Code: 108.05-2025.161)

The results of this funding round are a testament to the effectiveness of the "Strong Research Group" model that TDTU has persistently pursued. In particular, by contributing 3 out of the 4 Principal Investigators (Dr. Tung, Dr. Thong, and Dr. Dung), the Biophysics Research Laboratory has affirmed its role as one of the outstanding core units of IAST in particular and TDTU in general. The synergy among members within the same specialized group has created strong momentum, enabling them to comprehensively solve complex scientific problems and contribute positively to the general development of the country's science and technology.