Hi, I’m Vincent T. Pham

I’m a scientist‑entrepreneur, a Cancer Biology PhD candidate at UT Health San Antonio, and the Co‑Founder & CEO of Powerhouse Therapeutics Inc. My days oscillate between designing next‑generation cell therapies in the lab, pitching to investors, and mentoring the next crop of translational scientists. At the core, I’m driven by a simple idea:

“The cure to every disease is inevitable — why not make it arrive faster and end human suffering today.”


My mission

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Harness rigorous science, creativity, innovation, powerful teams, and entrepreneurial grit to deliver first‑in‑class therapies that rewrite the prognosis for all patients.

Quick facts

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Role: Co‑Founder & CEO, Powerhouse Therapeutics
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Education: Cancer Biology PhD Candidate @ UT Health San Antonio
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Research focus: Tumor immune microenvironment, sex differences in cancer‑associated cachexia, mitochondrial metabolism, blood substitutes, trauma, military medicine, cell and gene therapies, synthetic biology, genetic engineering
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Flagship innovation: The Immune Triad Therapy with Armed CAR‑T Supercharger (IT‑ACTS) platform

What I’m working on

Scaling Powerhouse Therapeutics

I’m recruiting a cross‑functional team that bridges immunology, synthetic biology, and cell‑therapy manufacturing to turn bold ideas into first‑in‑class products. In parallel, we’re tightening our regulatory roadmap—engaging the FDA, locking down key strategies, and lining up GLP tox studies. All of this feeds into a set of raises that will fund our lead program through IND and set the table for strategic partnerships.

Finishing the PhD sprint

My thesis work decodes how estrogen remodels mitochondrial epigenetics to buffer against cancer‑associated cachexia. I’m running integrated proteomic, metabolomic, and mouse studies to pin down the critical nodes, with two manuscripts already in draft. The goal is to defend in 2027 and translate these insights into novel cachexia‑modifying therapeutics.

Giving back

I mentor undergrads and grad students on everything from flow cytometry to career navigation, running regular office hours in the lab. Outside academia, I guest‑lecture on biotech commercialization and serve as Head of Strategy for Nucleate Texas, guiding early‑stage founders through customer discovery and pitch refinement. Whenever time permits, you’ll find me judging local science fairs, reviewing admissions essays, or hanging out with other biotech innovators.


A few guiding principles

  1. Patients first: Every experiment, slide deck, and late‑night brainstorm must answer, “Does this move the needle for someone in the clinic?”
  2. Iterate publicly: Share wins and stumbles—science grows when everyone sees the whole process.
  3. Bridge worlds: Academia ↔ Industry, Bench ↔ Bedside, Basic ↔ Translational; real breakthroughs live in the overlap of shared expertise, talent, and resources.
  4. Celebrate the little things: In startups, biotechnology, and life, we often fail more than we succeed. So, let’s take a moment to celebrate the little things that keep us going.
  5. Stop and smell the flowers: We often lose sight of the big picture in the day‑to‑day grind. So, I make it a point to step back and reflect on the journey.

Favorite reads that shape my thinking

  • The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple (But Not Easy) — Adm. William H. McRaven (Ret.)
  • Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win — Jocko Willink & Leif Babin
  • Make Your Bed — Adm. William H. McRaven (Ret.)

“The frontier of medicine isn’t a destination—it’s a habit of relentless curiosity.”


Let’s connect

Email Vincent
LinkedIn


Thanks for stopping by. This site will grow as the journey unfolds—check back for lab notes, founder diaries, and the inevitable plot twists. Check back regularly for updates on my life.