In a nod to the crucial role of science and testing during the pandemic, , a professor of clinical pathology, has been named parade marshal for ٺƵ’ 108th , being held in person on the Davis campus this Saturday, April 23.
“I hope my role as parade marshal raises awareness about the amazing work done by pathologists, clinical laboratory scientists, public health personnel, infectious disease and prevention experts, and many others over these last two years,” said Tran, who earned three degrees on the Davis campus. “I also hope it encourages future Aggies to consider pursuing careers within these related disciplines.”
Tran is the senior director of clinical pathology at ٺƵ Health and a key figure in COVID-19 testing.
Over the past two years, he emerged as a national spokesperson for diagnostic lab science. He has been a trustworthy authority in dozens of news stories to help the public understand COVID-19 testing, including , why and why it’s for the antigen test.
Tran said he was humbled and appreciative at being chosen marshal. “I will be there to represent the many ٺƵ laboratory professionals who joined the fight against COVID-19,” he said.
‘Rediscovering Tomorrow’
, held almost annually since 1909, has grown into a campuswide open house, one of the largest student-run events in the nation, showcasing the richness of diversity and achievements at ٺƵ. This year’s theme is “Rediscovering Tomorrow,” as the campus community rediscovers the joy of an in-person Picnic Day for the first time since 2019. Parking on campus is free on Picnic Day.
Opening ceremonies, including the introduction of Tran as the parade marshal, begin at 9:30 a.m. at the grandstands on North Quad Avenue outside . The parade will start there at 10:30 a.m., winding its way to downtown Davis and back, and will be .
Tran’s colleague Sergio Rodriguez, chemistry supervisor in the , may join him on the parade marshal’s float, but he is unsure who else. “Lab folks are shy!” Tran quipped.
In advance of Picnic Day, Tran will participate in a Zoom session, noon Tuesday, April 19, highlighting the university’s unique accomplishments during the pandemic.
Rapid response
At the start of the pandemic in 2020, Tran and his colleagues gained national attention for developing a COVID-19 diagnostic test from scratch in just 19 days for the then-novel coronavirus. ٺƵ’ helped by producing the necessary viral transport media. Four additional COVID-19 testing platforms were deployed by June, including a two-hour rapid test for the Emergency Department.
When very little was known about the virus, Tran implemented a process to save infected patients’ COVID-19 clinical samples via the ٺƵ Health biorepository, so they could be used in future research in collaboration with the Davis campus.
By fall 2020, Tran’s team rolled out a rapid 20-minute PCR test that could detect both . In the spring of 2021, Tran and his collaborators debuted a , for use outside health care facilities, in collaboration with industry partner .
Tran also worked to as a member of the California COVID-19 Testing Task Force and served on University of California COVID committees.
The battle isn’t over
The parade marshal said he enjoys seeing people’s faces again in situations where masks are no longer required — but noted that the battle against COVID-19 is not over.
“The challenge is to address what we have learned during the pandemic — such as the existing health disparities exacerbated by the pandemic, the limitations of current tests, and the unknowns related SARS-CoV-2 infection. The virus still has a lot to teach us,” Tran said.
Tran majored in biochemistry and molecular biology as an undergraduate, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 2003, and went on to earn a Master of Science degree in pharmacology and toxicology and a Ph.D. in comparative pathology.
His graduate and postgraduate research focused on developing molecular infectious disease tests for use in critical, emergency and disaster situations. This research for ٺƵ’ Point-of-Care Technologies Center laid the groundwork for Tran and his team to tackle the testing complexities presented by COVID-19.
In addition to supporting the fight against COVID-19, Tran continues research in point-of-care testing. He is the principal investigator responsible for the inaugural buildup of the new in Sacramento.
“I am looking forward to seeing Picnic Day and the parade from a different perspective,” Tran said. “So much hard work goes into planning such a large event. It will be nice to see the community come together and share all that is great about ٺƵ!”