Laboratory of Malaria & Vector Research

Manning Research Group

The Transition Program in Clinical Research (TPCR), housed in laboratories in Rockville and at the NIAID International Center of Excellence in Research (ICER) Cambodia, integrates innovative ideas like vector-targeted immunological strategies and cutting-edge technologies like pathogen metagenomic sequencing into traditional epidemiological studies in Southeast Asia.  Together, the team aims to apply and translate our findings to inform public health and disease prevention measures like vector control as well as vaccine development and implementation.

Jessica E. Manning, M.D., M.Sc.

Assistant Clinical Investigator, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research
Science Attaché, U.S. Embassy Phnom Penh and NIAID ICER CAMBODIA

Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.

Specialty(s): Infectious Disease, Internal Medicine
Provides direct clinical care to patients at NIH Clinical Center

Education:

M.D., Emory University School of Medicine

M.Sc., Harvard School of Public Health

Dr. Manning earned her medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine and her Master of Science in Epidemiology from Harvard School of Public Health. She completed the Doris and Howard Hiatt Residency in Global Health Equity and Internal Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital while a clinical fellow at Harvard Medical School. From 2008 to 2015, she lived and worked in Africa and...

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Jessica E. Manning, M.D., M.Sc.

Sophana Chea (He/Him/His)

Laboratory Manager

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Education:

Master of Medical Biology, University of Health Sciences

Languages Spoken: Khmer

Mr. Sophana has worked on molecular biology work in pathogen metagenomic NGS in febrile patients, bats, macaques and dengue microbiome; the mNGS identification of the AMR gene maker and the immunology work in the Aedes Saliva ELISA, DENV ZIKV PRNT.

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Cheata Hou (She/Her/Hers)

Assistant Laboratory Technician

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Education:

Bachelor’s degree, Pharmacy, University of Health Sciences. 

Languages Spoken: Khmer, Mandarin, French

Ms. Cheata has performed molecular work on DNA/RNA extraction, realtime RT-PCR, cDNA library preparation, metagenomic next generation sequencing. Her work is also to maintain bio-specimen inventory including updated spreadsheets for locating all samples generated from fields sites or laboratory assays.

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Sreyngim Lay (She/Her/Hers)

Sequencing Lead Technician

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Education:

Bachelor’s degree, Medical Laboratory, University of Health Sciences

Languages Spoken: Khmer

Ms. Sreyngim has worked on pathogen metagenomic next-generation sequencing in febrile patients, bat, macaque. AMR maker identification using mNGS. She’s interested in molecular biology research.

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Chanthap Lon (He/Him/His)

Medical Research Scientist/Chief Field Operation

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Education:

Doctor of General Medicine, Faculty of Medicine

Master of Clinical Tro-Med, Tropical Medicine of Mahidol University

Languages Spoken: Khmer

Dr. Chanthap has more than 12 years of experiences in the clinical research of malaria, influenza, diarrhea, and other mosquito-borne diseases in Cambodia as Chief of field Operation and he has served as principal investigator (PI) or co-investigator of more than 15 operational research and clinical trials, including IND and placebo studies, which adhere to the principles of GCP/GLP and abide by international norms for human subject protection.

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Piseth Ly (She/Her/Hers)

Laboratory Technician

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Education:

Master of Management, National University of Management 

Bachelor’s degree, Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Western University

Associate degree, Medical Lab Technology, University of Health Science

Languages Spoken: Khmer

Ms. Piseth has performed immunological assay such as ELISA, western blots, protein qualification, PRNTs, flow cytometry, additional bio molecular DNA/RNA extraction, cDNA library pre-training other on immunodiagnostic assay and manage immunoassay workflow, manage human sera, processing, storage, and lab inventory supply, reagents for research program. Her work also includes preparing technical...

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Sokna Ly (She/Her/Hers)

Clinical Field Coordinator

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Education:

Diploma in Midwifery, Chenla University

Languages Spoken: Khmer

Ms. Sokna is a Clinical Field Coordinator under CNM CA for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institute of Health, working on different studies of IDseq, PAGODA, PINCH, and eASIA.

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Somnang Man (He/Him/His)

Laboratory Technician

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Education:

Bachelor’s degree, Medical Laboratory, University of Health Sciences 

Languages Spoken: Khmer

Mr. Somnang has worked on PRNT, PBMC, ELISA and inventory management.

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Sreynik Nhek (She/Her/Hers)

Laboratory Technician

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Education:

Bachelor’s degree, Medical Laboratory, University of Health Sciences 

Languages Spoken: Khmer

Ms. Sreynik has worked on dissect mosquito salivary gland for use in ELISA, western blots, and sequencing. Her work is also to perform ELISA assays, western blots, protein quantification, and other procedures in the laboratory for the project such as PAGODAS, IDSEQ, eASIA and PINCH.

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Fabiano Oliveira, M.D., Ph.D. (He/Him/His)

Associate Scientist, Staff Scientist

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Education:

M.D., Medical School of the Federal University of Bahia, Bahia, Brazil

Ph.D., Human Pathology, Federal University of Bahia, Brazil

Languages Spoken: Portuguese, Spanish

As part of the Vector Molecular Biology Section, Dr. Fabiano Oliveira interests lie on mitigating vector borne diseases, by exploiting the arthropod vector molecules, especially salivary proteins that impact the host-parasite dynamics. With the Transition Program in Clinical Research Unit, Dr. Fabiano Oliveira interests lie on mitigating vector borne diseases, by exploiting the arthropod vector...

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Vunsokserey Ou (He/Him/His)

Data Manager

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Education:

Bachelor’s degree, Computer Science and Engineering, Royal University of Phnom Penh 

Languages Spoken: Khmer

Mr. Serey has worked on daily check of data quality of project study, data extractions based on the requirement and coordinated with teamwork in terms of data capture through an online database or other work-related.

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Mengheng Oum (He/Him/His)

Laboratory Technician

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Education:

Bachelor's degree

Languages Spoken: Khmer

Mr. Mengheng has worked on pathogen metagenomic next-generation sequencing in febrile patients, bat, macaque. AMR maker identification using mNGS. He’s interested in molecular biology research.

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Andrea R. Pacheco, B.A. (She/Her/Hers)

Post-baccalaureate Research Fellow

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Education:

B.A., Medicine, Literature & Society, Columbia University 

Languages Spoken: Spanish, French, Portuguese, Arabic

Ms. Andrea has contributed to data analysis, manuscript preparation, and implementation of location history tracking strategies for several protocols.

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Samphors Pho (She/Her/Hers)

Office Manager

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Education:

Bachelor’s degree, Banking and Finance & English for Business, Royal University of Law and Economics 

Languages Spoken: Khmer

Ms. Samphors has overseen the daily operations of an office such as procurement, finance, human resources, and administration. She’s prepared the monthly budget requests and budget summary reports, monthly payroll, annual budget reports, and tracking of leave records for all employees and provided full range of support on administrative such as correspondence, travel arrangements, a report...

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Roberto M. Salas-Carrillo, B.S. (He/Him/His)

Post-bacc IRTA

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Education:

B.S., Microbiology, The University of Texas at El Paso

Languages Spoken: Spanish

Mr. Roberto got his degree in microbiology from the University of Texas at El Paso, where the work involved two different research projects as a building Scholars recipient. In summer 2019, he was part of the UT Southwestern SURF Program cohort in the Cardiology Department, in Dr. Joseph Hill’s lab. Currently, he is an IRTA Postbaccalaureate working in Dr. Jessica’s Manning’s lab, where he is...

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Ratanak Sath (He/Him/His)

Clinical Field Coordinator

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Education:

Associate degree, Laboratory, Chenla University 

Languages Spoken: Khmer, Chinese

Mr. Ratanak is a Clinical Coordinator of National Institute of Health (NIH), working on collecting samples at the field, communicating, and coordinating with patients, hospital staff and community.

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Sothy Soeung, M.B.A. (She/Her/Hers)

Public Health Admin Management Assistant

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Education:

M.B.A., Asian Institute of Technology 

Languages Spoken: Khmer

Ms. Sothy has coordinated administrative, logistics and financial aspect for research project and assisting with protocol application reports submission and ensure accuracy and quality submission to ethic committee, including filing system, consolidating comments, assisting and monitoring site visits and correspondence. Her work is also to provide assistance to NIAID Science Attaché for scientific...

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Gechlang Tang, B.S. (She/Her/Hers)

Assistant Laboratory Technician

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Education:

Bachelor's degree, Bioengineering, Royal University of Phnom Penh 

Languages Spoken: Khmer, Mandarin

Ms. Gechlang has performed molecular work: DNA/RNA extraction, real-time PCR, cDNA library preparation, metagenomic next-generation sequencing and maintained the bio-specimen and supply inventory. Her work is also to analyze data and prepare monthly reports of results.

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Kevin Tang, B.S. (He/Him/His)

Postbaccalaureate IRTA

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Education:

Bachelor’s degree, Bioinformatics, Hunter College

Kevin is a postbac at the Manning Lab, investigating the effects of mosquito saliva proteins on the human immune system. He graduated in 2018 from Hunter College with a degree in Bioinformatics. Before coming to the NIH, he received a Fulbright award to conduct chemistry research in Jordan. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, rowing, and exploring DC.

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Rathna Tim, B.S. (She/Her/Hers)

Clinical Nurse

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Education:

B.S., Nursing, International University 

Languages Spoken: Khmer

Ms. Rathna has worked on characterization of febrile disease landscape in Cambodia via metagenomic pathogen sequencing.

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Christina Yek, M.B.B.Ch. (She/Her/Hers)

Clinical Fellow

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Education:

M.B.B.Ch., University of Cambridge

Languages Spoken: Spanish, Catalan, Mandarin

Dr. Christina is using (metagenomic) next-generation sequencing and serologic tests to study the epidemiology of various infectious diseases (arboviral disease, zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance) in Cambodia.

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Laura Willen, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)

Postdoctoral Visiting Fellow

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Education:

Ph.D., Parasitology, Charles University

Languages Spoken: Dutch, French, German

Dr. Laura has expertise in studying the immune response against insect vector saliva, including sand flies, blackflies, and mosquitoes with the focus on the identification of serological biomarkers of host exposure that can be employed in evaluating vector control strategies and unravelling the epidemiology of infectious diseases transmitted by these vectors. Currently her main focus is to parse...

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