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Tag: Chulalongkorn University

Chula opens Gender Health Clinic to serve the transgender community

Posted on by Chulalongkorn University

The King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital of the Thai Red Cross Society has founded a “Gender Health Clinic” in collaboration with faculty members from the Gender Medicine and Menopause, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University to provide a comprehensive health clinic to underline the importance of transgender in Thai society today.

In addition, this Gender Health Clinic is also a specialized learning center for doctors, medical students, and interested medical personnel. It is also an international research centre on transgender health in conjunction with the Center of Excellence in Transgender Health (CETH).

“The establishment of a Gender Health Clinic is meant to provide medical services specifically for transgender patients who previously could find no specialized clinics in this field. Patients use hormones, self-inject hormones, or take birth control pills haphazardly or wrongly do what their friends do.  Some people go to underground clinics and are not treated by specialists which is even more dangerous,” Associate Professor Krasian Panyakhamlert, M.D., Head of Gender Medicine and Menopause, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of  Medicine, Chulalongkorn University and founder of Gender Health Clinic elaborated.

Dr. Thanapob Bampenkiatkul, MD. Special Lecturer in Gender Medicine and Menopause,  Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, and a specialist at the Gender Health Clinic explained,” Consultation depends on the way an individual patient wants to change his/her body to feel good. We provide information on the safest and most appropriate ways to become the person he/she wants to be.”

Regarding Hormone replacement therapy for a sex change, a popular method used by transgender people to transform their physique into their desired gender, Amarin Suwan, M.D., a lecturer of Gender Medicine and Menopause, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, and a specialist at the Gender Health Clinic, opined, “Every person’s body is different and requires different drugs/doses to suit the body. Some people are better suited for pills taken orally, while others are better with topical drugs, or they may get the same drug but at different dosages, which the doctor will recommend the best.”

Most importantly, hormone replacement therapy is not for everyone.  People with breast cancer, myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease (CAD), coagulopathy, polycythemia vera, or patients with abnormal liver or lipid profiles, etc. are barred from hormone therapy.

Dr. Thanapob said, “Transgenders have diverse needs.  For instance, most trans men want their ovaries and uterus gone because they don’t belong to their body, while some people don’t mind them as much.  Some may want to get pregnant or have vaginal sex, so they don’t have a hysterectomy, while only 3-4 per cent of all-trans men worldwide undergo penile reconstruction surgery. So, to each his own.”

The Gender Health Clinic offers gender reassignment surgery services for both transgender men and women, by working with a transgender surgery clinic.  The types of surgical procedures include breast reduction and breast enlargement,  hysterectomy, removal of ovaries, and fallopian tubes, penile and vaginal reconstruction, as well as castration, and other surgeries including hips augmentation, Adam’s apple sharpening, jaw sharpening, face shape change.

Adolescents under 18 years of age are treated on a case-by-case basis. The clinic has specialized endocrinologists and child and adolescent psychiatrists from the Integrative Adolescent Health Clinic. All of this is for service recipients to have a better quality of life and mental health.

Among other services, the Gender Health Clinic also offers counselling services for gender-related health problems, such as menopause, vaginal dryness, endocrinological disorders related to sex hormones, and the consequential unsatisfying sex, such as lack of sex drive, pain from sexual intercourse, etc.

Chula’s Art4C rebrands, launches environmental exhibitions

Posted on by John.Ch

Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts (FAA) recently rebranded Art4C, its gallery and creative learning space, under the slogan: “Art for Life, Sustainability”. The three-story facility, located on the university’s Bangkok campus, was the venue for a live-streamed discussion, a seminar on marine pollution and fashion show on July 3, 2021, held under the title “RE-SCAPE: Bite Scape, Art Scape, Act Scape”.

The rebranding and launch of several related exhibitions were also held as part of the faculty’s active involvement in the Bangkok Design Week 2021.

The introductory discussion featured FAA Dean Professor Bussakorn Binson and Chupong Wangwattananan and was moderated by ART4C Director Haisang Javanalikhikara, the latter of whom introduced ART4C’s new collaborative partner Mr Wangwattananan, who is the owner of the Dragon Ink company. He has set up a new coffee shop on the ground floor of ART4C, Bite Scape, which is proving very popular with the university’s students.

This talk was followed by a seminar on plastic marine pollution (in 2019 Thailand was the 7th largest marine polluter in the world), which specifically discussed issues related to the exhibition, Plastic Sea, an interactive installation created by activist artist Witaya Junma and curated by Haisang Javanalikhikara. Junma utilised a ‘vortex machine’ to visually present plastic waste data in Thailand’s coastal waters from the Department of Marine Resources. The presenters were the artist Witaya Junma, Pornsri Suthanaruk (Deputy General Director of Department of Marine and Coastal Resources) and environmental activist Chanat Wutwikaikan; the seminar was moderated by Chanat Wutwikaikan of Kong Green Green.

ART4C Director Haisang noted a theme underlying all of these ambitious creative projects: “Artists and activists participated in these events to empower us to see that the environmental issues we face are so severe. They want to engage people in dealing with these issues so that we can all help heal the ecosystem. There isn’t any particular way to do this, so we must be creative and supportive.”

The third session brought together three well-known Thai environmental artists – Teeprang, Wishulada and Nee Fabritt – to discuss how to be creative through sustainable art practices. Teeprang recently held an exhibition, Liberated, at ART4C. Wishulada, a FAA alumni, is known for her use of recycled materials in her artworks. She created clothes and accessories using her distinctive style.

The sessions ended with a fashion presentation that featured a fashion show using recycled Thai fabrics, Recycle Rising by Lalalove and new fashion photography, Anusorn Mah Hua Nau (Memorial Outcast) by Akin Kanjanapokin (Teeprang). From 4 July to 11 July ART4C held related shows on each of its three floors: on the first floor Anusorn Mah Hua Nau by Teeprang, Ecological Expansion by Fabritt and MeClass, and Recycle Rising by Lalalove; on the second floor, Plastic Sea by Witaya Junma and Every Year is the Golden Year by Nin Narin (a collaboration between Narin and Lalalove); and on the third floor, Incarnate, by Wishulada.

Incarnate was inspired by Wishulada’s visit to Khao Yai National Park and her realisation that animals and nature are being destroyed by human behaviour. As with the Plastic Sea exhibition, Wishulada’s aim was to engage with her audience to make them aware of these critical environmental and ecological issues so that they can understand the need for change.

All the exhibitions at ART4C employed sustainable practices in the preparation and display of the artworks in order to reduce their carbon footprints. Due to the current pandemic situation, viewing was by appointment only.

Chulalongkorn University student receives Honorable Mention prize from 2021 Book Award Contest

Posted on by Chulalongkorn University

Narongchai Saeng–akanee, a second-year Education student majoring in the Thai Language for Secondary Education, Chulalongkorn University, and the writer of “Every Tree Was Once a Seedling”, has received an honourable mention prize from the 2021 Book Award Contest. The book was submitted under the poetry category for young adults (age 12-18).

Narongchai, with his talents in Thai language and poetry, previously put together a book of poetry, “Every Tree Was Once a Seedling, which won the first runner-up of the 2020 Seven Book Awards contest in the young writer’s category. Furthermore, his poetry, “In the Little World”, received an excellence award from the 2020 Young Artist Award in the poetry category. Other awards he received were the Royal award “Grateful Children for Their Mothers 2020” and the National Outstanding Youth Award 2019.

Organized by the Office of the Basic Education Commission, Ministry of Education, this year’s Book Award Contest was, for the first time, open to all published books. Over 33 stories were submitted by writers, publishers and institutes in a variety of categories, including documentary books, novels, poetry, short stories, books for children ages 3-5, books for ages 6-11, young adults ages 12-18, cartoons and picture books.

Chulalongkorn University researchers innovate a smartwatch that can measure blood glucose from sweat

Posted on by Chulalongkorn University

The Metallurgy and Materials Science Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University will soon launch a cutting-edge, health innovation – a wristwatch that can check blood sugar levels from sweat in real-time.  It’s accurate, not painful, less expensive, and can replace imported equipment.  It is expected to be available on the market soon.

The research team introduced the ultimate wristwatch that can measure blood glucose and lactate levels from sweat, received a Good Invention Award for Science and Pharmacy, 2021, and a collaboration with the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA).

The Metallurgy and Materials Science Research Institute

According to Dr. Natnadda Rodthongkam, Deputy Director of the Metallurgy and Materials Science Research Institute, “Medical reports indicate that the level of glucose in sweat is directly related to blood sugar.  So, we used this finding to innovate a device that helps tell the patient’s glucose level in real-time. This is very important to the daily life of diabetic patients who must regularly monitor and control their blood sugar levels.”

“Moreover, it helps reduce the burden of healthcare workers.  Patients do not have to waste money and time travelling to the hospital and risk complications.”

Diabetes is a common disease among the elderly.  According to the Diabetes Association of Thailand’s report, in 2020, up to 5 million Thai people suffer from diabetes.  More importantly, diabetic patients also experience muscle weakness caused by the disorder of the immune and nervous systems.

Currently, the methods used to determine blood sugar levels are by drawing blood from the fingertips according to the fasting plasma glucose standards for diabetics, together with a lactate test to measure the concentration of lactate. Patients with muscle weakness need to fast for at least one hour before they can draw blood.

“Knowing real-time blood sugar and lactate levels will help patients take care of themselves, adjust their behaviour, or seek immediate medical attention before it becomes dangerous. We, therefore, devised a method that is faster, more accurate, and doesn’t need fasting or drawing blood, ”said Prof. Dr Natnadda.

This Chula-NSTDA joint project has researched and developed a special yarn material that is biochemically modified to absorb sweat and is sensitive to glucose and lactate enzymes in a single device.  Diabetics can monitor their blood glucose and lactate level anytime while wearing this smartwatch.

“This special yarn transmits the obtained data to a test sheet inserted inside the smartwatch case… to compare the measurement against a standard Calibration Curve.  If the blood glucose is low, the colour will be light, if high, the colour will be dark, while the lactate value will appear even darker in colour, “Prof. Dr Natnadda explained.

Currently, the research team is testing the effectiveness of the watch on diabetics and weak muscles, with cooperation from physicians specializing in diabetes treatment and the Comprehensive Geriatric Clinic, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. After successful testing to ensure its performance, this device will be further developed to be used by real diabetic patients soon.   The team also anticipates that this smartwatch will be popular among patients, and can help reduce the cost of importing high-priced medical devices from abroad.

Chulalongkorn University trains sniffer dogs to detect people infected with COVID-19 in Thailand

Posted on by Chulalongkorn University

The Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University (CUVET) unveiled its latest effort in training a pack of sniffer dogs to detect people with COVID–19.  The project reached 95% accuracy, and the dogs are ready for duty at airports in support of the normal screening process.

Temperature screening only works in symptomatic COVID-19 cases, but sniffer dogs are trained to detect asymptomatic people.

The “Sniffer Dogs to Detect Asymptomatic COVID–19 Cases” project is the latest work by CUVET, in collaboration with Chula Faculties of Medicine and Science with funding support from Chevron Thailand Exploration and Production Co., Ltd.

“A dog’s sense of smell is 50 times better than humans, so we thought of tapping into this potential,  particularly in Labrador Retrievers with their long nasal cavity.  They are very sensitive to scents, friendly, and easy to train.  We picked six dogs to be initially trained in this project”, said Prof. Dr. Kewali Chatdarong, Deputy Dean for Research and Innovation, CUVET, and head of the research project.

Tests showed that this pack of dogs was 94.8% accurate in their detection of asymptomatic COVID-19 cases, comparable to other countries, such as Finland, Germany, France, and Australia, etc.

Prof. Dr. Kewali Chatdarong, Deputy Dean for Research and Innovation, CUVET
Prof. Dr. Kewali Chatdarong,

Deputy Dean for Research and Innovation, CUVET

“The research team collected sweat samples of infected persons.  These samples are confirmed secretion with no viral contamination.  We blotted the underarm sweat with cotton pads and socks and stored the samples in a biosafety laboratory. Then, these cotton pads and socks were put in cans for the dogs to sniff. After the dogs smelled these samples, they would immediately sit down identifying an infectious person though asymptomatic.”

“All testing procedures were safe for both the dogs and personnel involved.  The team used sweat samples from people infected with COVID-19 and let the dogs sniff from the distance. All tools were sterilized,” confirmed Assoc. Prof. Dr. Somporn Techangamsuwan, infectious disease veterinarian, one of the researchers.

 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Somporn Techangamsuwan, infectious disease veterinarian
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Somporn Techangamsuwan,

Infectious disease veterinarian

This research was conducted over a period of six months and divided into three phases. The first phase of two months was spent testing the dogs’ ability and training them to distinguish the infected person’s odor with accuracy, speed, and certainty. The preparatory training received support from the Border Patrol Police 43rd Division and PQA Associate Co., Ltd.

Next, came practical trials at the airports, ports, and popular tourist destinations by letting the dogs sniff people’s feet. The third phase focused on new screening tools such as sensors to identify people fitting the infection profile, by the faculty members of the Faculty of Science, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thammanoon Nuchak and Dr. Chadin Kulsing.

“This is Thailand’s prototype project of canine training for medical use. In the future, there will be training to detect other diseases such as diabetes, depression, malaria, and Alzheimer’s,” Prof. Dr. Kewali, the Project Leader concluded.

Chulalongkorn University successfully uses stem-cell transplantation to treat systemic sclerosis patients with pulmonary fibrosis

Posted on by Chulalongkorn University

The Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine (CU Medi), Chulalongkorn University and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, the Thai Red Cross Society (Chulalongkorn Hospital), in collaboration with the Departments of Hematology, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, and Infectious diseases, held a press conference on “Thailand’s first successful treatment of systemic sclerosis patients with pulmonary fibrosis by stem cell transplantation”.

Prof. Dr. Suttipong Wacharasindhu

Prof. Dr. Suttipong Wacharasindhu, Dean of CU Medi and Director of Chulalongkorn Hospital said that both CU Medi and Chulalongkorn Hospital have been developing the services, healthcare innovation, medical equipment, and application of modern technology to patient care to ready themselves for the current and future changes in the field of medicine. They have an extensive body of research and medical innovations on stem cells.

Most recently, the Rheumatology Division, in collaboration with Hematology, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, and Infectious Diseases Departments were the first in Thailand to successfully treat two systemic sclerosis patients with pulmonary fibrosis by stem-cell transplantation.  Such success demonstrates the expertise, specialization, and dedication of the healthcare teams in applying knowledge, research and medical technology on stem cells to help improve patients’ quality of life.

Prof. Dr. Thiraphong Tanthawichien

Prof. Dr. Thiraphong Tanthawichien, Head of the Department of Medicine, CU Medi said that the success in treating systemic sclerosis patients with pulmonary fibrosis by stem cell transplantation is a source of great pride for CU Medi.  It is a modern treatment that is made possible because of the cooperation from specialists in various fields and will be optimized to benefit the whole country in the future.

Prof. Dr. Manathip Osiri

Prof. Dr. Manathip Osiri, Head of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, CU Medi said that systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that can cause malfunctions of many internal organs.  It is characterized by the formation of fibrosis on the skin and internal organs. It hardens the skin and causes fibrosis in the lungs, and cardiac muscles, and can lead to an enlarged heart and heart failure. Most patients suffer chronic symptoms, while some can suffer acute onsets and die.

Medications to treat this disease and control its progression include vasodilator drugs, immunosuppressants, used in combination with drugs that help slow down or reduce the fibrosis.  However, these drugs are only effective in patients with gradual symptoms.  In patients with acute and aggressive progression, treatment by regenerating the immune system to regulate its function will help slow down the disease progression, reduce damage to the organs, and prevent premature death.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Udomsak Bunworasate, Head of Hematology, CU Medi revealed that the way to effectively treat this type of autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and fibrosis in the organs is aiming to eliminate the malfunctioning immune cells and normalize the immune system.  Such treatment is usually not possible with a regular dose of immunosuppressants but should be done with a high dose together with antibody treatment, followed by stem-cell transplantation created from the patients’ stem cells harvested during the treatment.

The hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation will help patients recover faster, and regenerate new immune cells.  In other words, this is a rearrangement of the immune system by stem-cell transplantation.

The first step is to select the right patients for the treatment. The next step is to harvest the stem cells and freeze them. During this period, the patients are kept in a sterilized room and cared for by a team of doctors and nurses specializing in caring for people with low immunity. After the stem cells start to work, patients will have their immune systems restored to normal and can be discharged from the hospital. They will then be periodically monitored, to see the progress of stem-cell transplantation.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kamon Kaewkitinarong

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kamon Kaewkitinarong, Head of the Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, CU Medi, observed that most systemic sclerosis patients with pulmonary fibrosis also suffer from noninfectious inflammation. Patients often show symptoms of dry coughs and shallow breaths which induce hyperventilation. They are easily fatigued after exertion and become less active.  Disease progression differs for each patient and is unpredictable.

Dr. Chakkapat Vanichanan

Dr. Chakkapat Vanichanan, Lecturer and Transplant Infectious Disease Specialist, Department of Medicine, Chulalongkorn Hospital, concluded that preparing the patients by assessing the risk of infection and screening for latent infection before stem-cell transplantation, as well as prescribing antibacterial drugs are very important preventive steps to reduce the likelihood of infections.

The top concern for systemic sclerosis patients with pulmonary abnormality who are candidates for stem-cell transplantation is pneumonitis which may be caused by bacteria, especially drug-resistant bacteria, or fungal infection.  This will worsen the already-troubled respiratory system and can cause early respiratory failure and deterioration of the lungs in the long run.  Therefore, intensive monitoring after stem-cell transplantation plus immediate prescription of antibacterial drugs once there is a sign of infection will reduce the death rate in the patients.

Smart light bulbs for better visibility by Chulalongkorn researchers

Posted on by Chulalongkorn University

Smart LED light bulbs for the elderly, the latest innovation from Chula and its partners, can do more than emitting light.  They enhance the contrast among the primary colors of light thereby improving visibility and reducing accidents in the elderly.  The product is expected to hit the market in May.

If members of your household, especially the elderly, frequently stub and bruise their toes, knees, or shoulders on doors and furniture, do not be too quick to conclude that it is because of their absent-mindedness, or the clutter around them.  The culprit may be poor lighting in your home.

“Older people and those suffering from low vision have difficulty distinguishing the contrast of objects’ surface or uneven pathway, and often trip and fall, “explained Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pichayada Katemake, a representative of the research team from the Department of Imaging and Printing Technology, Chula Faculty of Science, about the rationale behind the ” Living Innovations to Improve Visibility in Seniors and People with Low Vision“ research project supported by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT).

the research team from the Department of Imaging and Printing Technology, Chula Faculty of Science
The research team from the Department of Imaging and Printing Technology, Chula Faculty of Science

Researchers from various disciplines within Chulalongkorn have been collaborating in this project, namely the Department of Imaging and Printing Technology, Faculty of Science; the Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering; and the Department of Housing, Faculty of Architecture with support from the partners, i.e. the Faculty of Medicine, Metta Pracharak Hospital and Lighting & Equipment PCL.

“Our research found that  ‘white light’ — a combination of three-color wavelengths: red, green, and blue can enhance the contrast of different surfaces enabling the elderly and people with low vision to see more clearly and move around with more agility.  It also gives brighter white light that amplifies the contrast between certain pairs of colors as well.

The findings lead to the development of the smart LED lightbulbs of the future, now ready for the public, that transcends the visual limitations of these vulnerable groups.“We have successfully manufactured long LED bulbs and are now expanding our product lines to other types of bulbs.  A field test is scheduled in May 2021 at the Vision Rehabilitation Center, Metta Pracharak Hospital, and the housing for low-vision people.  The field test will be in line with the ethical research process to ensure safety.”

In addition to the smart light bulb project, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pichayada also elaborated on other projects that are currently under development, such as a vision-simulating application for people with low vision. (The Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons Act 2534 B.E. defines people with low vision as those with only 20-feet of visibility compared to 70 feet in people with normal vision).

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pichayada Katemake, Department of Imaging and Printing Technology, Chula Faculty of Science
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pichayada Katemake
Department of Imaging and Printing Technology, Chula Faculty of Science

“This application simulates low-vision visibility and allows designers to see through that vision, complete with the blind spots, so they can select appropriate colors with noticeable dimensionality and contrasts. The app uses the mobile phone camera to photograph desired areas, so that designers can create safe furniture and home appliances for all ages,” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pichayada added.

Also under development is Guide Light – an innovative night light with revolutionized color mix and brightness that does not disrupt the elderly’s sleep when they need to get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.  The color palette, combo, and brightness threshold, as well as saturation and contrast values, are chosen for high visibility, with clear indicators on the color values and matching criteria.  This is perfect for home appliance designers — another alternative product for families with elderly or people with low vision.

Chulalongkorn University launches a campaign to communicate innovations developed for fighting COVID-19

Posted on by Chulalongkorn University

Chulalongkorn University has taken a bold step in commutating its transformation to an innovation-centric university with its “Innovations for Society” campaign.

The campaign uses a short movie to inform the public about the various innovations that Chula has successfully developed to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, as part of Chula’s mission to play a leading role in “Creating Knowledge and Innovation to Promote Sustainable Development for Society”.

The short film, “Innovations for Society: Innovations against COVID,” uses a storytelling technique from the point of view (POV) of an ad agency person who has to dig deep into her creative arsenal to come up with a pitch for the client to approve.

Chula’s target is “to communicate a myriad of innovations against COVID-19 that are full of technical and complicated jargon in a fun and engaging way in 3 minutes.”

The film director is able to successfully tie all the information into a coherent, cute and funny storyline that the audience has to smile at.  The storyline is divided into 3 parts.

First, it starts with “preventive innovations” such as a face-mask spray to protect us from virus and dust, and CU-RoboCovid — the medical-support robot. Then, it describes “screening innovations” such as the Chula Covid-19 Strip Test, Chula Express Analysis Mobile Unit (EAMU), and COVID-19 data incubator website that’s developed with other partners.

Finally, the story concludes with “remedy innovations” such as COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, tobacco vaccine, Chula MOOC (massive open online course), and Quick MBA from home that provides cutting-edge professional knowledge to the Thai people with novel ways to earn a living during the COVID-19 crisis.

Chula’s innovations against COVID-19 are part of the university’s mission to serve society with technological breakthroughs as well as to be a driving force for Thai society to continue along the path of robust growth.

Watch the full clip at https://youtu.be/3gYGcX5H9l8.

Chulalongkorn University launches new mental wellness platforms for students

Posted on by Chulalongkorn University

Chulalongkorn University has opened Mind Café and Mind Space, the latest mental wellness platforms for Chula students during the time of social distancing to help them cope with the stress of life, studies, and relationships.

During the past five years, stress about school, the future, relationships with others, and depression have topped the list of concerns when students came to receive counselling at Chula Student Wellness.  These problems seem to have increased proportionately as more enhanced social distancing is required during the COVID-19 pandemic

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Prof. Dr. Thanyawat Phothisiri, Head of Student Wellness

“There has been a steady rise in students’ mental health problems.  Topping the chart are issues relating to their studies — either they don’t understand their subjects or don’t like their subjects.  And now during COVID-19, with online classes, students find themselves even more stressed.” Professor Dr. Thanyawat Phothisiri, Head of Student Wellness, discussed the rationale behind increasing outreach channels for students while they are stuck at home through the online platforms: Mind Café and Mind Space.

“If students are feeling unhappy and cannot find a way out, they can answer a questionnaire at the Mind Space web application, then make an appointment with a psychologist; or come in for a quick chat with a psychologist on Mind Café for preliminary assessment,” said Professor Dr. Thanyawat.

Mind Café is now fully operational, while Mind Space is 50-percent complete and is expected to be fully functional sometime in August.  Students will be able to book appointments in advance. Moreover, Student Wellness plans to provide an after-hour consultation in a semi-hotline format that will allow students to be able to chat at night.

These online channels seem to have helped solve students’ problems successfully,” Professor Dr. Thanyawat said. “Since Chula launched Mind Space in November last year, over 1,700 students out of 40,000 have already used the apps and more are expected.

Noppasit Siricharoonchai, Acting Head of Student Wellness and Psychologist

Mind Café is designed to have a relaxing atmosphere in which students feel free to discuss various issues in their daily lives in either Mind Talk or Mind Exercise.

Mind Talk allows students to have a quick conversation with a psychologist for primary screening.  This channel is suitable for students who are unsure about how serious their problems are.  Sometimes the initial conversation may already make them feel better, if not, they can make an appointment for a full consultation session,” said Noppasit Siricharoonchai, Acting Head of Student Wellness and psychologist.

Mind Exercise is a space for students to exercise their mind, to build immunity against life problems.  Various speakers give talks about different issues of interest to students that are often encountered in their daily life.  For instance, recent topics include “How to Take a Mind Break”, “Study: Is it Wrong Not to Be Productive?”, or “Collaboration: When Team (Does Not) Work?”.

A web application that allows students to recognize their basic mental state, Mind Test is a psychological questionnaire to examine 4 areas: 1) depression, anxiety, and stress, 2) problem-solving, 3) general mental health, and 4) career readiness.

“After students have received the results, the system will recommend articles in Mind Support and activities in the section called Mind Workshop that are suitable for each student, or it may recommend an appointment that enables them to speak with a psychologist,” Noppasit explained.

Another outstanding feature of Mind Space is Mind Journey, which is like a mental health profile of each student.

“Students can record their daily mood to assess their emotional state through the Mind Tracking system.  The system keeps track of the data and shows the results in an overview. Additionally, records of students’ app usage history can also be accessed,” said Noppasit.

Whether students just want to get to know themselves or look for a way to heal, Mind Café and Mind Space are ready to be their confidants. Yet, it’s best if everyone has a strong Mind Immunity.

“Both platforms’ contents focus on self-development which will yield preventive effects for future problems.  For example, after students learned about self-management, personality, and positive thinking, their lives will brighten up, and this could reduce the need for therapy in the long run,” said Noppasit.

“Mental healthcare is important. Whenever we feel unbearable distress, it’s not only us who suffer from the mental conditions, but those near and dear to us may suffer because of our   mental state as well.” Noppasit concluded.

Chula signs MoU to develop cannabis for use in medicine

Posted on by Chulalongkorn University

The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BLOOM (Thailand) Co. Ltd. to develop cannabis for medical, health, and beauty uses.

The MOU was signed by Assistant Professor Dr. Rungpetch Sakulbumrungsil, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Professor Dr. Polkit Sangvanich, Dean of the Faculty of Science, and Dr. Vorachart Petnunthawong, Board of BLOOM (Thailand) Co. Ltd.

Professor Dr. Wanchai De-Eknamkul, from the Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, gave opening remarks for the MOU signing ceremony at the Community Pharmacy Laboratory (Osotsala), Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University.