Friday March 24, 2023 – The National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) by NECTEC and Khon Kaen University organized a conference on Technology and Research to Suppress Tuberculosis. The parties then signed an academic collaboration agreement that emphasizes research and development of technology in medical and biological innovations, electronics technology and computerized works including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and enhancement of modern innovations. The main purpose is for national development in various dimensions. Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University, signed on Khon Kaen University’s part; while Professor Chukit Limpijamnong, Ph.D., Director of the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) signed on the part of NSTDA. Attending as witnesses were Assoc. Prof. Kiatchai Phugsri, Ph.D., Dean of the Graduate School and Director of the Center for Research and Diagnosis of New Contagious Diseases of the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University and Dr. Saran Samritdechkajorn, Deputy Director of the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA). The MOU signing ceremony was held at the Press Conference Room, 1st Floor, Phra Jomklao Building, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI).
Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University explained, “Researchers of Khon Kaen University and NSTDA have been collaborating continuously. However, to raise more collaboration and clarify collaborative works that would lead to an ecological system of the use of national researched technologies, the agreement this time is based on impacts on the society and broad scale utilization of the research and developed technologies. The ultimate goal will be sustainable national development. The collaboration will be one mechanism that promotes co-research and innovation building and increases opportunities in education and research at the graduate level, leading to high-competent graduates who will go out to work efficiently and effectively for the country. All of these also correspond to the reform strategy of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation as well as increase the competitive competency and area development, improvement in the medical and public health dimensions both at the national and regional scales. Until now, there have been collaborations in nanotechnology from NSTDA that assists in screening liver fluke embryo and a sensor innovation that detects protein, which indicates cholangiocarcinoma, from which the risk group can be found and the death rate can be reduced.”
“Khon Kaen University is ready to support expansion of research collaboration and technological development that will increase the efficiency in research and development, and innovations in medicine and biology, electronics technology and computerized work. With these works, innovations and research studies will be strengthened and the research proposals of researchers, lecturers and students will be made for grants both from the country and overseas. Learning and sharing of the two parties will be extended and students working on research will upgrade their skills for research work,” added KKU President.
Professor Chukit Limpijamnong, Ph.D., Director of the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) said, “We have a lot of researchers at NSTDA who are the key manpower in science, technologies, and innovations for country deployment. We are strongly determined to work with our allies who are the essential part in Thai socio-economic development. NSTDA is ready to support operations and various missions of Khon Kaen University with our existing technologies and innovations, and hence, a network for research and technological collaboration will be built. The collaborative framework this time will cover research and technological and innovation development in medicine, biology, electronics technology, computerized evaluation including AI, innovations in agriculture and food, modern industries, material sciences and energy.”
Professor Chukit Limpijamnong then added, “For the development of innovations for prevention and treatment of tuberculosis, there has been collaboration between the Center for Research and Diagnosis of New Contagious Diseases of the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, which is applying high technology such as Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) developed by NECTEC under the name ONSPEC. This will become joint research to build an efficient tool for quick screening and diagnosis of both active TB and latent TB (for less than 1 hour compared to the former 1-2 days). The collaborative work will also include development of proposals of research for applying international scholarships, which is at present 80% on process. There will be a network for arranging presentation of research works all over the world. It is expected that the end result will be the cessation of the incidence of tuberculosis according to the goal of the World Health Organization in 2035. Moreover, there will be upgrading works for the manufacturing industry of sensors and sensor services from domestic market towards international market.”
Assoc. Prof. Kiatchai Phugsri, Ph.D., Dean of the Graduate School and Director of the Center for Research and Diagnosis of New Contagious Diseases of Khon Kaen University added, “As the Director of the Center for Research and Diagnosis of New Contagious Diseases, I have worked for research collaboration between KKU researchers and researchers from NSTDA, NECTEC, BIOTEC and NBT. Our emphasis is on research for medical innovations for disease diagnoses, especially for stopping TB in Thailand. As the Dean of the Graduate School, I have worked for the collaborative agreement to build a network for joint research and technological development between Khon Kaen University and NSTDA. The target is to promote the research work of students of the Graduate School at NSTDA and also exchange of researchers between KKU and NSTDA.”
News: Watchara Noichompoo
