Center for development of international standard and spectroscopy in medical laboratory
Principal Investigator: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Patcharee Jearanaikoon, Khon Kaen University
This project aims to establish the Center for Innovation and Standard for Medical Technology and Physical Therapy (CISMaP) to provide a biospectroscopy platform to support disease diagnosis studies. The biospectroscopy platform in this project can employ a variety of light sources, including infrared, synchrotron source, fluorescence, ultraviolet and visible light. In addition, CISMaP will seek to obtain the ISO/IEC 17025 certification to perform kidney stone analysis using infrared spectroscopy and the ISO/IEC 17043 certification for proficiency testing in microbial inoculation and characterization. Under the collaboration with Firmer Company Limited, the center plans to provide biospectrocopy services to medical laboratories in hospitals nationwide. CISMaP is expected to drive the development of diagnostic innovations in Thailand, enabling the saving on imports and opportunities for new export products
Development of vacuum blood collection tube
Principal Investigator: Asst. Prof. Dr. Wanvisa Treebuphachatsakul, Naresuan University
Blood collection tubes used in Thailand are primarily imported. Local production of blood collection tubes can help offset the imports and promote the medical device industry in Thailand. Innomed blood collection tube is an innovation developed by Naresuan University in collaboration with its spinoff WE Med Lab Center Company Limited. The tube is coated with two formulations of blood additive agents commonly used in blood collection for laboratory testing, i.e., one to promote or prevent blood clotting and the other to stabilize sugar level. With two formulations of blood additives, one single Innomed tube can be used for two tests, namely biochemistry and blood sugar, and therefore offering a cost-effective solution and requiring less amount of blood drawn from patients. Innomed blood collection tube is currently manufactured in an ISO 13485-certified facility at Naresuan University. This project aims to build the technological capability to advance the production of Innomed blood collection tubes from non-vacuum to vacuum type to offer more products to the market. In this project, the manufacturing will be expanded from non-vacuum to vacuum type and upgraded to obtain CE marking to ensure the quality of the product.
Collaborative laboratory network for diagnostic innovation: Prince of Songkla University and southern network (PSU Medical Diagnostic Technology and Health Informatics, MedTHI)
Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Teerapol Srichana, Prince of Songkla University
This project aims to strengthen the capacity of the collaborative laboratory network for diagnostic innovation whose members consist of medical laboratories at Prince of Songkla University (PSU) and its partners in southern Thailand. Under this project, PSU laboratories will develop their capacity to meet the requirements of ISO 15189, ISO 15190 and ISO 13485 standards. The standards conformity will enable laboratories to broaden their medical diagnostic scope and allow physicians and researchers in the region to have access to advanced technologies. In addition, PSU plans to develop a comprehensive operational process for applications of next generation sequencing into clinical work which will significantly promote precision medicine research and innovation. Based on its successful development of microfluidic sperm sorting device, PSU will continue to improve the performance of this sperm sorting device and design other types of medical equipment to enable domestic manufacturing of medical devices and reduce Thailand’s dependence on import products.
Research and development on production of Clostridium botulinum antitoxin type A and B for preclinical studies
Principal Investigator: Mr. Nakorn Premsri, M.D., National Vaccine Institute
Botulism antitoxin (BAT) is used to treat patients who are exposed to botulinum toxin. This project aims to enable the domestic BAT production, thus strengthening the national health security. The production of Clostridium botulinum antitoxin type A and B will be developed, and preclinical studies of the antitoxins will be performed. The project will be carried out by the National Vaccine Institute in collaboration with Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute – an establishment with extensive capability and experience in antitoxin research and production, including rabies vaccine and snake antivenin.
Development of GMP/PICs pilot plant for the production of standardized herbal extract for medical and food applications: the preliminary study in kratom plant model
Principal Investigator: Asst. Prof. Dr. Worrawit Wanichsuwan, Prince of Songkla University
This project aims to establish a GMP/PICs pilot plant for the production of standardized herbal extract for medical and food application. Located in Southern Region Industrial Estate in Songkhla Province, the facility will be used to produce Kratom extract for research and development to unlock its commercial potential. Kratom or Mitragyna speciosa (Korth) Havil is a herbal plant whose pharmaceutical benefits have been extensively studied. In addition to GMP standard, the facility and its operation will be designed to comply with Thailand’s Narcotics Act under which Kratom is regulated. The project is funded under the collaboration between PMU-C and Interpharma Company Limited.
