Success Story: NIW Approved for Molecular Oncology Researcher Advancing DNA Damage Repair and Response Modulation
Client’s Testimonial:
“Thank you so much for helping me complete the I-140 and successfully get approved.”
On August 9th, 2025, we received another EB‑2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the field of Molecular Oncology (Approval Notice).
General Field: Molecular Oncology
Position at Time of Case Filing: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Country of Origin: Vietnam
State of Residence at the Time of Filing: Texas
Approval Notice Date: August 9th, 2025
Processing Time: 1 year, 1 month, 13 days
Case Summary:
At North America Immigration Law Group (NAILG), we are pleased to share this NIW approval for a researcher whose work helps clarify how cells repair DNA damage and regulate damage‑response pathways. The petition outlined a program to develop material characterization strategies that support advances in diagnostics, cancer medicine, and gene‑based biotechnologies, aligning the endeavor with national priorities in critical and emerging technologies.
Research Focus and Contributions
The petition highlighted a cohesive research agenda that includes:
- Designing image‑based screening methods to track recruitment and regulation of ubiquitin E3 ligases at double‑strand breaks.
- Studying chromatin factors such as H2AX and macroH2A to understand rapid cancer genome evolution.
- Investigating p53 isoforms to define their roles in DNA damage responses.
- Dissecting replication and checkpoint factors (Claspin and Mus101) and hematopoietic responses to irradiation to map repair mechanisms across contexts.
Research Impact and Metrics
To document influence and standing, the petition assembled:
- 3 peer‑reviewed journal articles and 1 preprint.
- 16 citations by independent research teams.
- Publications in the highly ranked peer-reviewed journal Scientific Reports, which has an impact factor of 4.6.
Here is an anonymized excerpt from a recommendation letter that underscores the practical impact of her work:
“[Client] has made groundbreaking discoveries elucidating the distinct roles of Claspin and mus101 in gene amplification and unraveling genetic pathways that dictate stem cell fate following radiation exposure. [Cient] shows that while both proteins are essential at onset, Claspin ensures smooth amplification progression, whereas mus101 is critical for initiation, with its malfunction markedly affecting ORC2 levels.”
Demonstrating Substantial Merit & National Importance
We showed substantial merit by tying the work to better cancer treatments and biotechnology progress, and national importance by linking it to U.S. initiatives that recognize genome and protein engineering among priority technology areas. The record connected disease burden and care gaps with the client’s concrete outputs and planned studies, demonstrating how these methods can improve patient outcomes and strengthen U.S. technological leadership.
Well Positioned to Advance the Proposed Endeavor
The client’s advanced training, ongoing U.S. research role, and consistent record of publication and citation establish a strong capacity to carry this work forward. Letters of support further recognize the client’s ability to translate methodology into biomedical applications.
NIW Approval and Outlook
Approved in 1 year, 1 month, and 13 days, this case underscores how targeted studies of DNA repair and response modulation can accelerate U.S. innovation in oncology and biotechnology. NAILG is proud to have guided this petition and looks forward to the client’s continued contributions to improved diagnostics and therapies.