Tag: Chulalongkorn University

The Chulalongkorn School of Integrated Innovation (ScII) and Nanyang Polytechnic, Singapore have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for student and faculty exchange. Signed on June 28, 2022, the MoU provides for both Institutes to exchange up to six students every year.

Both Institutes will provide official transcripts for every exchange student. The transcripts will serve as official credits for the courses the students attended. Furthermore, both Institutes plan to facilitate student immersion programs to promote internationalization. Beside students, both ScII and Nanyang Polytechnic will also encourage faculty and staff exchanges.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Professor Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, Executive Director, ScII, and Ms. Esther Ho, Director, School of Business Management, Nanyang Polytechnic.

Ms. Ether Ho noted that Nanyang Polytechnic follows an interdisciplinary approach similar to the one adopted by ScII. ”Competency-based learning permeates our curriculum,” she said. From their very first day in the program, students engage in industry-based projects, and as they progress, the scope and complexity of the projects increase. “We also have teaching enterprise project centers where our pedagogy is implemented with real-life industry as a platform for students to apply their knowledge and skills,” Ms Ho said.

Signing the agreement, Prof. Worsak said, “This agreement will bring Thai and Singaporean students closer together and promote project-based learning with industry partners, a landmark pedagogical approach fostered both at our School and at Nanyang Polytechnic’s School of Business Management.” Thanks to the practical industry-focused approach followed at Nanyang, ScII students can now look forward to working with industry and business majors in Singapore. “ScII has already established solid partnerships with 11 multinational companies and eight international academic partners, five of which are among the top 300 universities in the world,” Prof. Worsak said. ScII’s network now extends from the UK and the US to China, Australia, and Japan, among others.

Prof. Worsak also suggested that ScII and Nanyang Polytechnic partner with like-minded universities and institutions in neighboring countries so that students can benefit from the emerging ecosystem.

Participants from Nanyang Polytechnic included Ms. Esther Ho, Director, Mr. Aloysius Tan, Deputy Director, Ms. Charmaine Khoo, Manager; and Ms. Nurul Huda. ScII was represented by Professor Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, Executive Director, and Dr. Pietro Borsano, Deputy Executive Director.

Dementia Day Center, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, the Thai Red Cross Society prepares for Thailand’s anticipated aging society by offering various rehabilitation services to help slow down the decline of people with dementia, while planning to launch a professional course for caregivers, and establishing the “Bright Brain Club” to persuade people of all ages to learn and care for early brain health to avoid the possibility Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is the leading and most common cause of dementia in older adults. The higher the average life expectancy of Thai people, the greater the chance of dementia. Associate Professor Sukcharoen Tangwongchai, M.D. the Head of the Dementia Day Center, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, reveals that 6 out of 10 people with dementia are caused by Alzheimer’s disease. It is estimated that there are currently about 600,000 people with dementia in Thailand.

Alzheimer’s specialist Associate Professor Sukcharoen Tangwongchai, M.D.
“Alzheimer’s” is an incurable disease, but we can slow the decline to the disease’s terminal stage as much as possible. However, diagnosis and treatment when symptoms occur may be too slow. This disease is not only the patients’ problem but also affects caregivers who have to take care of patients 24/7. It can cause stress and various forms of challenges for the caregivers. Therefore, raising awareness to prevent the disease is necessary for everyone,” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sukcharoen voiced his concern about the near future when Thai society becomes a full-fledged super age society in the year 2031 in which 28 percent of the population would be the elderly. This means the tendency to find more patients with dementia will increase drastically.

Early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease
Dementia is cognitive impairment in 6 areas: memory and learning, language use, concentration, management abilities, motor skills, and social thinking. This has an impact on a patient’s daily life and makes them dependent on their caregivers. Some may display mental or behavioral symptoms as well. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, of which early symptoms are memory loss.

“We may notice forgetful behavior. The person can’t remember what just happened, keeps repeating the same thing or question over and over again, misplacing things, like putting the phone in the refrigerator, the toothbrush in the pantry, kitchen stuff in the bathroom, forgetting appointments, or whether they have already eaten, etc. These symptoms are different from the typical age-related forgetfulness in old people. The early signs of Alzheimer’s are that these episodes happen frequently, and take a long time for them to ponder but could never recall what happened, while for ordinary people, they will remember much later.”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sukcharoen explained that in addition to forgetfulness that affects daily life, Alzheimer’s patients have difficulties in communication, concentration, reasoning, making a decision, or fixing problems. They would have faulty logic, dimensional and spatial problems, as well as sequential activities that they used to be familiar with such as using a phone or electrical equipment. Then their condition will worsen until they are unable to perform routine activities. They also would suffer personality changes. Some people may experience mood swings and become very irritable.

“The personality of Alzheimer’s patients will change, while they develop other mental or behavioral problems, such as paranoia, jealousy like never before, use of profanity, anxiety attacks, reduced interest in their surroundings, isolation from friends and family, passiveness, and seclusion from others.”

Risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease is caused by a variety of reasons, with the main risk factors being:

-Aging: People between the ages of 65-70 have a 1-2 percent chance of getting the disease, which increases every 5 years.

-Females are at greater risk of developing this disease than males.

-People with a family history of the disease are at higher risk.

-Less educated people have a higher risk than those with higher education, perhaps because the latter are more likely to perform tasks that require analytical thinking, keeping their brain active at all times.

-Hearing loss because the deterioration of the auditory nerve causes the brain to be less stimulated.

-Severe brain trauma, such as accidents that cause concussions, or loss of consciousness

-Health conditions include high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease that are not treated or controlled.

-Obesity in middle age increases the risk

-Depression in the elderly

-Substance abuse, smoking, drinking exceeding 21 standard drinks per week.

-lack of social interaction, isolation

-Lethargy or lack of activities that allow brain exercise

“However, we may find Alzheimer’s disease in people 50 years of age or younger accounting for about 2-5 percent. This group of people has a history of parents or siblings suffering from the disease, and they are found to have mutated genes that are genetically inherited,” added Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sukcharoen.

Early diagnosis increases the quality of life.
When there is a suspected onset of Alzheimer’s disease, the doctor will diagnose the case based on probing the patient’s history from the patient and close relatives or caregivers that can provide information about the patient’s daily ability and behavioral regression of brain function, along with subjecting the patient to a brain performance test using a visual assessment test on memory, concentration, decision-making, directions, language, and calculations, etc., followed by a blood test, CT or MRI brain scan to determine the root cause of the problem.

“The sooner the disease is diagnosed, the better the patients and those around them will be able to plan their lives to cope with the symptoms. Treating Alzheimer’s patients is not about curing the disease, but about planning their lives and supporting them based on the symptoms and problems to slow down dementia as much as possible,” Assoc.Prof. Dr. Sukcharoen emphasized.

Therapeutic activities for Alzheimer’s disease without medication
The approach to Alzheimer’s treatment is both drug- and non-drug-based. Drug treatment is used to help improve cognition and memory, relieve dementia, and improve brain activity, coupled with psychiatric drugs to treat the mental symptoms in question and improve the patient’s behaviors.

But most importantly there is the non-drug treatment, the main approach used by the Dementia Day Center King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, to care for people with dementia and their caregivers throughout its two years of service.

“The non-drug treatment is aimed at patients and caregivers care because successful caring for people with dementia for their improved quality of life, depends partly on caregivers. We focus on therapeutic activities to stimulate the brain, and cognition, reduce behavioral problems, and help patients practice more of their routine activities, says Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sukcharoen.

“The nature of the activities is varied and three group therapy activities are offered each day, and also attended by caregivers so that they can apply what they learn to caring for the patients at home. Patients and caregivers are advised to attend the activities as a course of at least three days a week for three-month,” Assoc. Prof. Dr.Sukcharoen added while also mentioning that an assessment of the symptoms, basic abilities, and readiness of patients and caregivers is given before the activities so that the proper type can be offered.

The Dementia Care Center for Alzheimer’s disease
The Center is open from 9.00 am with 2 morning activities between 09.00-12.00, and one more activity in the afternoon from 1-2 p.m. Each activity lasts about 45 minutes due to the inability of dementia patients to concentrate for an extended period.

“Every morning, there is an orientation session with clients in a bright light therapy room, for about half an hour, followed by group activities for cognitive stimulation, such as brainteaser, crafts, and memory jogging which lets patients reminisce, and share good stories and feelings, art, cooking, singing, art therapy, music therapy, gardening, tree planting, recreational activities, and gaming, etc. Moreover, there are exercises such as stretching, yoga, and ADL Training (Activities of Daily Living) activities like brushing one’s teeth, taking a shower, combing one’s hair, eating, etc.”

In addition, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sukcharoen said that the Center also offers “Seal Robot” therapy for people with dementia in many countries around the world.

“There are studies that suggest that seal robots can help people with Alzheimer’s disease communicate. Robots have touch sensors, and voice recognition, and can interact with patients. When patients carry, cuddle and talk to the robot, it can respond to them, and encourage them to communicate better.”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sukcharoen reveals that patients who participate in the Center’s various activities have shown improved memory and language ability, improved mood, decreased behavioral problems, and are generally happier. The Center also receives positive feedback from caregivers.

“The activities selected by the Center all help to stimulate the brain activity. The patients are happier. The activities are adjusted to suit the clients’ ability and motivate them to join next time. Some people, after completing the course, also want to come again for a new course. We also found that these activities can slow down the disease to a satisfactory level,” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sukcharoen emphasized.

“Caregivers also have a better understanding of how to care for patients, having learned how to cope with patients through activities. More importantly, it is the social interactions, which are not just among patients, but also among the caregivers, all of which is to improve the quality of life for both.”

In the future, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sukcharoen said that the Center has plans to do more individual brain training for cases that have problems preventing them from participating in group activities. In addition, it will develop an online service platform using virtual reality devices and other innovations in collaboration with the cognitive impairment and dementia research unit of Chulalongkorn University Faculty of Medicine, as well as offer an online course for professional caregivers of people with dementia.

The Clear Brain Club prevents Alzheimer’s before it’s too late.
Dementia is preventable, says Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sukcharoen, reiterating evidence from several studies that people can slow the development of dementia at an early age.

“If you don’t want to have dementia, and to always have a bright brain, you need to start at an early age. Lead a healthy lifestyle, which is easy to do, starting with no stress, no depression, have social interaction, constant and regular exercise, annual health checkups, taking care of personal health issues, eating five groups of healthy foods, avoiding substance abuse and alcohol, abstain from smoking, sleep well, learn new things in life, do leisure activities, practice meditation,” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sukcharoen suggested.

For this reason, the Dementia Day Center has set up a “Bright Brain Club” to encourage the general public to recognize, understand, and possess skills to care for themselves, and their mental and brain health to prevent dementia when entering an advanced age.

“The club is established with no membership fees for anyone 45 years of age or older because people of this age who are preparing to go into the geriatric stage are beginning to have chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, the conditions which we need them to start paying attention to now. Most importantly, some people with stress, and depression from everyday life, if not properly cared for, early on will have a high risk of dementia in the future. Therefore, everyone should take care of their brain health before it’s too late.”

The Bright Brain Club is part of the Dementia Day Center located on the 15th floor of the Sor Tor Building Currently, there are about over a thousand members. Members can participate in regular club activities free of charge, such as workshops, seminars on physical and mental health issues, film screenings and discussions afterward, or listen to audio materials via podcast or YouTube.

“We want to encourage older people to prevent dementia early on by looking after themselves, paying attention to their physical and mental health to lessen the burden for their loved ones, the society, and the country in the future.So come and join our club,” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sukcharoen said.

Alzheimer’s care center Dementia Care Center
Contact the Dementia Care Center, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital for appointments to attend therapy or join the Bright Brain Club at the Sor Tor Building 15th Floor, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, The Thai Red Cross Society, Tel. +66-2256-40000 ext. 71501, 71507 or via Facebook “Dementia Day Center, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, The Thai Red Cross Society,” or visit https://www.dcarechula.com/

Chula’s researchers have garnered themselves a world-class reward for their latest solar cell project which increases the capacity of electricity production and can be applied to numerous types of merchandise. These new solar cells are guaranteed to meet international standards and develop clean energy for society.

What used to wow us in sci-fi movies is now coming true as a reality. The day when we all become electric humans who can produce our electric currents using our clothing with built-in solar cell fibers or our wristwatches, cellular phones, or even your favorite hat.

These are the merits of research like “Developing the Stability of Perovskite Solar Cell” by Dr. Rongrong Cheacharoen of the Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Science, Chulalongkorn University who was one of the three researchers from the ASEAN region to recently win in the Green Talents Competition 2021 in Germany. The research has succeeded in overcoming the limitations of current solar cells and increasing the diversification of various types of products.

Limitations of current solar cells
Current solar cell panels have several limitations such as production problems, large panel sizes, and diminished performance in hot and humid environments.

As Dr. Rongrong explained, “most of the solar cell panels on the roofs of houses or those found in solar farms are the silicon type. Their capacity reduces by about 15% when the panel temperature reaches 60-70 degrees Celsius.”

Moreover, the solar cell panels production process is also highly complicated and relies on high temperatures which could pose a serious problem if the world would require more solar energy.

“The research question is how to find solutions to materials, production, and solar cell panels efficiency in a hot and humid country like Thailand.”

A new type of heat-resistant solar cell panel at maximum production capacity
Other than the silicon panels, another type of solar cell panel that is gaining popularity and merits further study is the Perovskite Solar Cell which has the same capacity to produce electricity as the silicon type but requires fewer materials and works well in a wider range of temperatures than the silicon type or as high as 65 degrees Celsius.

“What is special about the Perovskite Solar Cell, aside from the flexible and thin materials (a mere 500-nanometer thinness) it is also fast and easy to produce since the forming of the Perovskite Solar Cell uses a solution process similar to printing which makes it possible to be used on surfaces of any type whether it is fabric, bent surfaces, or even tiny tools making it possible for this type of solar cell to be used in a vast range of products like wristwatches, fabric fibers, and hats.”

Solar Cells with High-Quality World Standards
With all its advantages, the new type of solar cell still has certain limitations such as stability. Damp weather or UV rays can make the materials or solar cell fringes alter their appearance after an extended period of use. Dr.Rongrong has tried to address these problems leading to her endeavors since 2015 to work with leading academic institutions both in Thailand and abroad to study the stability of the Perovskite Solar Cell by putting it to use in an environment with UV rays, humidity, and voltage difference to determine whether the capacity is equivalent to normal circumstances. This research led to the design of the tools and the selection of materials that have been developed as encapsulation that would enable the Perovskite Solar Cell to pass the IEC 61215 industrial standards (first world standards for solar cell panels).

“In terms of testing standards, we conduct an accelerated test which involves replicating various conditions anticipated to happen in the next 25 years and noticed certain problems. However, the encapsulation and materials for this research enabled us to pass the test.”

Dr. Rongrong takes great pride in the fact that winning the Green Talents Competition 2021 from Germany is an affirmation of the standards and efficiency that meet the Sustainability Development Goals. Currently, the Netherlands and many other countries are adopting the new Solar Cell and adapting it to different forms of Solar Cell structures. For Thailand’s future in clean energy, Dr. Rongrong believes additional research is needed on the stability of new solar cells that suit our hot and humid climate. She is certain, however, that we will be seeing various forms of solar cell products being manufactured here in Thailand.

The increased longevity happening all over the world means we are likely to live longer than our parents and grandparents.

According to the United Nations, the world’s population age structure will continue to shift due to increasing life expectancy and decreasing levels of fertility. The global number of older persons is expected to more than double over the next three decades, reaching over 1.5 billion in 2050.

As one of the countries with a rapidly increasing aging population, especially this 2022, Thailand is now becoming an ‘aging’ society and will likely become a ‘super-aging society’ by 2031. To better meet the needs and provide services to the nation’s aging society, experts from various fields at Chulalongkorn University have conducted research to produce and develop innovations for the elderly.

To read more about Chula’s innovations that support healthy aging, follow the links below:

– Chula Dementia Day Center Can Help You Prepare for Old Age with a Clear Mind and Away from Alzheimer’s
https://www.chula.ac.th/en/highlight/73820/

– DeepGI AI – A Thai Innovation for the Precision in Colorectal Polyp Detection
https://www.chula.ac.th/en/highlight/73670/

– “Intestinal Microflora” as Health Indicator, A National-level Research Project by Chula Doctors in Response to Problems of an Aging Society
https://www.chula.ac.th/en/highlight/71551/

– Chula Launches PDPlus Application to Monitor Symptoms in Parkinson’s Patients for a Better Quality of Life
https://www.chula.ac.th/en/highlight/71287/

– A Success for Thai Medical Doctors! Producing Hip Prosthesis for the First Time – Enabling the Aged to Walk Again and Enjoy a Better Quality of Life
https://www.chula.ac.th/en/highlight/68527/

– Chula Medical Breakthrough! RED-GEM Molecules to Reverse Aging
https://www.chula.ac.th/en/highlight/59580/

– How to Sleep to Ensure Good Health – The Excellence Center for Sleep Disorders (Nidra Vej Center) Has the Answers
https://www.chula.ac.th/en/highlight/48356/

– Continuing Education, Skills Enhancement, and Self-Reliance: Essential Ingredients for an Aging Society
https://www.chula.ac.th/en/highlight/46792/

– Chula Ari, an Innovation Driving the Model Society to Support the Thai Aging Community
http://www.sustainability.chula.ac.th/report/2547/

A startup under the umbrella of CU Innovation Hub in collaboration with the Chula Faculty of Science has developed an innovative “Detachable and Dissolvable Microneedle” that makes any injections easy and painless for everyone, while also significantly reducing medical wastes.

Those afraid of needles and injections rejoice! Today, getting an injection is no longer scary or painful, because we have a “Detachable and Dissolvable Microneedle”, an innovative microneedle patch that can be implanted, fully detached, and dissolved under your skin! A product from Mineed Technology Co., Ltd., a startup under the umbrella of the Innovation Hub of Chulalongkorn University (CU Innovation Hub) with Prof. Dr. Supason Wanichwecharraung, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University.

“Injection is one form of a typical treatment and prophylaxis that everyone has to deal with, whether it’s vaccination, insulin for diabetics treatment, or even a typical injections to treat facial acnes. In contrast, for people with Trypanophobia, the injection can significantly causes distress, in some cases, severe physical trauma, such as hyperhidrosis patients, who would require 30 injections under each armpit,” Prof. Supason explained about the kickoff ideas of the microneedle patch.

From Problems to the Development of “Detachable and Dissolvable Microneedles”
Microneedles were invented and have been used globally for a while, but they have not been as popular as they should be. Prof. Supason revealed the problem of the previous generation of microneedles “the needles do not dissolve immediately so that patches have to be left on for 2-6 hours. In addition, the levels of moisture on each person’s skin are different, causing the active medication embedded in the needles to absorb at a different rate, not completely dissolve, or do not penetrate the skin of the users.”

“So, we developed this innovation that once the needle patch is in place, the implanted needle can be instantly detached itself into the skin, similar to implanting a splinter into human skin, but in this case, it doesn’t hurt, 100% safe, and a lot quicker than other typical dissolving microneedles.”

Small but full-performance needles
The innovative microneedle contains active medication in a tiny needle of no more than 1 millimeter (1,000 microns). It can quickly dissolve into the skin giving a different sensation than an injection with a typical syringe.

Mr. Chokchai Puangsiri, Director of Business Development, Mineed Technology Co., Ltd., who frequently try the microneedle, described the experience of using the patches, “although it feels like something is touching the skin, it feels far less painful than a typical syringe injection, more like touching the prickly part of the velcro tape. The microneedles can also be self-administered anytime, anywhere without the need for any medical expert anymore.”

In addition to reducing the pain and fear of the syringe, another advantage of using microneedles is that the dosage of medication is much lower. Prof. Dr. Supason gave an example of the COVID-19 vaccination, “there are two types of COVID-19 vaccinations, intramuscular vaccinations, and subcutaneous vaccinations. Subcutaneous injections are better at stimulating the immune while using lower doses than intramuscular injections, but subcutaneous injections are more difficult to inject and, if done frequently, it can cause scarring.”

The innovative soluble microneedles, therefore, make subcutaneous injections a simple matter and eliminate the likelihood of “scarring” from injections with syringes, especially among patients who need regular subcutaneous injections, such as diabetics. Also, dissolving microneedles help significantly reducing the amount of hazardous medical waste like needles and syringes as well.

Microneedles are easy to use. Anyone can give themselves an injection.
Microneedles cater to those who need to have frequent subcutaneous injections so that they do not have to waste their time and money traveling to receive services from healthcare profession. It is also a suitable for those who are afraid of needles or do not dare to give themselves injections.

“In the past, many diabetic patients died because they did not dare to give themselves insulin injections, and therefore, were not properly treated. Therefore, microneedles are the answer for this group of people, because patients can inject themselves easily.”

“Microneedles also help extend drugs’ shelf life, as liquid drugs are solidified to be used in the microneedles, thus their shelf life is extended for up to 1-2 more years.

With various microneedle properties, Mr. Chokchai said the innovation will help healthcare profession in providing telemedicine services without patients having to come to the hospitals for their injections in the future, which is really cost inefficient.

How to use “Detachable and Dissolvable Microneedles”
The Detachable and Dissolvable Microneedle set consists of two components: a microneedle patch, and a moisture patch resembling a wet tissue. The application starts with placing the microneedle patch on the skin where the injection is needed. Use your fingers to press all over the sheet so that the needle containing the drug is embedded under the skin. Place the wet patch over the microneedle patch to dissolve it. Leave it for at least 2 minutes for those needle to be detached and dissolved under the skin. Then, peel off the wet and microneedle patches, and it’s done – both conveniently and quickly.

For people who are worried about allergic reactions, Prof. Dr. Supason explained that “the microneedle is made from hyaluronic acid, which is a polymer that is already exist in any human body, so it surely doesn’t cause any allergic reaction. The needle can be used by anyone, but it also depends on the type of drug or vaccine that is injected. If the user is allergic to the drug or vaccine, it is inevitable that there is a chance for an allergic reaction.”

Group of medicines suitable for microneedles
Microneedles can be used with all types of drugs and vaccines injected subcutaneously, whether they are topical, such as anti-acne, anti keloid scarring medicines, or drugs for bodily systems, such as diabetes, migraine, contraception, etc.

“In our Detachable and Dissolvable Microneedles, we can exactly control the dosage, the depth of the skin layer to be injected, and the time for dissolution rate appropriate to the drugs,” Mr. Chokchai said.

Unsuitable drug types for microneedles are those with high dosage, because of the limited size of patches and needles making them too small for high-dose drugs. The proper dose is 1 mg per square centimeter.

Marketing opportunities for microneedles
Mr. Chokchai mentioned that the current development of microneedles is for two markets: the cosmetics market and the pharmaceutical market.

In the cosmetics market, hospitals and cosmetology clinics, both local and overseas, have ordered and used the microneedles, which have already been registered with FDA in Thailand and Europe, with vitamins and skincare agents. In the future, interested parties with drug formulas can commission the company to develop microneedles.

For the pharmaceutical market, the process is at the Proof of Concept stage, and clinical trials are underway in collaboration with the company’s partners before the products are launched at general pharmacies.

“We tested a variety of medications, such as anti-inflammatories for the skin, acne medicines, and blood-glucose-lowering medicines for diabetics, and it worked well. But to sell them, we need to comply with the Food and Drug Administration’s regulations,” Chokchai said.

The innovative Detachable and Dissolvable microneedles can be developed for many types of medicines, such as herbal patches for mosquito bites. The characteristics and components of the microneedles can also be adjusted to match the performance of any specific medicines, such as the size of the needle, or the duration of dissolution.

Dissolvable microneedles will give people wider access to treatment and preventive medicine because there’s no need to be afraid of needles or pain any longer. Now, needles are only minute matters.

On April 21, Cloudbae Company and Chulalongkorn University held the signing ceremony of the MoU on Innovation and Entrepreneurship Cooperation for Overseas Talents at the China-ASEAN Smart City Collaborative Innovation Center. Assoc. Prof. Natcha Thawesaengskulthai, Vice President of Strategic Planning, Innovation and International Cooperation of Chulalongkorn University, and Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulcha, Executive Director of Bachelor of Arts and Science in Integrated Innovation (BAScII), attended the signing ceremony and delivered speeches.

The advantage of this MoU is to:

• Jointly research and work on entrepreneurial venture projects in areas of entrepreneurship, smart city solutions, and emerging technologies, including AI, machine learning, and data science.

• Recruit the next generation of employees for consecutive implementation

• Exchange knowledge and talents

Cloudbae Company, started in March 2017, is dedicated to the development and operation of new Smart Cities. The company focuses on Smart City collaborations among Chinese and ASEAN cities and delivers the building, operating and upgrading of smart city collaborations with local governments.

“I-Nanning APP” is the first product launched by CloudBae company in Jan 2018. It is a Municipal Public Service Platform connected with 47 government departments, offering more than 100 services.

By Jan 2021, Cloudbae has accumulated 6 million registered users, out of which more than 600,000 are daily active users. Some highlights of the application are the E-Identification, Once Code Smart Pass, and Real Estate E-Services.

At about the same time that a new type of green frog was found in the forests of Myanmar, Dr. Panupong Thammachoti a lecturer at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University has also found two new types of stream frogs in the Bago region to the north of Yangon, Myanmar.

For Dr. Panupong, a taxonomist and ecologist who has continuously researched reptiles and amphibians in this region, the discovery of these frogs in Myanmar is a reflection of the biodiversity in Southeast Asia which we all should be aware of and work together to ensure its survival.

Genome technology reveals the heredity of a new species of frogs

This discovery is a result of the collaboration between research teams from three countries – Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Science, East Yangon University of Myanmar, and Germany’s Senckenberg Forschungs institut und Naturmuseum led by Prof. Dr. Gunther Köhler, an expert in taxonomy and genome technology for reptiles and amphibians.

“We took two years to conduct our research and most of the time was spent collecting specimens both in Thailand and Myanmar after which the frogs were sent for analysis at the Senckenberg laboratory in Germany. The process involved applying our knowledge in physics that’s applied to biology to examine the DNA, analyze the vocal variations of frogs, as well as study the genome, or the entire genetic data of these frogs until we found two of the world’s newest species of frogs.” Dr. Panupong explained the process of the research project on the diversity of stream frogs in Myanmar, and the mountain range in the western and southern part of Thailand which began in 2019.

The study that led to the discovery of the two species of stream frogs has been documented and published in the international journal, Diversity, in August of 2021.

The characteristics of the world’s new stream frogs

Dr. Panupong explained the general characteristics of the stream frog that “their habitat is in the streams of tropical forests like the jungles in the western and southern part of Thailand. The size of each frog is about 3-5 centimeters. Their bodies are brown and appear much like a leaf which is a form of camouflage. These frog species only make mating calls at night. As tadpoles, they live around the streams where the gush of water isn’t very strong and when they are fully grown will move to the side of the stream. They are found mostly in the rainy season which is their mating season.”

The two newly discovered species of stream frogs are the Bago Stream Frog (Limnonectes bagoensis) and the Bamboo Forest Bago Frog (Limnonectes bagoyoma).

“Both types of frogs are similar in that their skin is slippery, they are dark brown or brown mixed with olive green. Their forelegs have four toes without connective tissue while the hind legs have five toes with connective tissues that enable them to swim. The skin on their backs is quite smooth with only a few lumps while the skin on their stomachs is white or cream-colored, very smooth and not lumpy.”

“In terms of differences, the Bago Stream Frog has a black strip from the end of its nose to the side of the ear and its body size is 30-49 centimeters. It is larger than the Bamboo Forest Bago Frog which measures 23-29 centimeters.”

Relationship between frogs and the ecosystem

The discovery of these new species of frogs is a good indicator of the fertility of the forests in Southeast Asia since the habitat of these frogs are natural bodies of water that are clean, clear, and always flowing.

Although there are still some stream frogs remaining, Dr. Panupong reminds us that the numbers are dwindling and if deforestation continues the changes in forest conditions could eventually lead to the frogs’ extinction.

“We hope that the knowledge generated from this research will let people see the importance of forests and refrain from cutting down trees and destroying forests. It is also important to find ways to develop the appropriate form of ecotourism that also leads to the conservation of forests.” Dr. Panupong added.

The future of other species discoveries

Dr. Panupong continues to study and disseminate knowledge on reptiles and amphibians in Thailand. He plans to further his research on stream frogs and frogs in the south of Thailand which have features that are similar to frogs found in Myanmar. Research will also be carried out on other reptiles such as the world’s new skink found on the mountains of Indonesia, the Kukri snake which isn’t poisonous but often likes to eat the eggs of poisonous snakes, and the rattlesnake which is highly poisonous. We often hear news of people being bitten by this type of snake.

Dr. Panupong ended by sharing his opinion that “The discovery of new animal species is an indicator of the fertility of forests in our region.

I believe there are still a large number of reptiles and amphibians waiting for us to discover and study. Research on these animals will enable us to understand the significance of the animal life that coexists with humans in the ecosystem. Some of the reptiles and amphibians can be beneficial in terms of science and technology.

Even if their appearance isn’t as attractive as other animals and some are also poisonous but they are important to the ecosystem, the study and research on natural history and biology which also includes the way of life of these animals will help us humans to be able to sustainably maintain the balance of the ecosystem.”

Chulalongkorn University Technology Center (UTC) urges Deep Tech researchers to push forth deep innovations onto the market, promote business ventures, and be the driving force in the Thai economy.

DeepGI artificial intelligence detection of colorectal cancer, Aqua Innovac needle-free aqua vaccine for farmed fish, ReadMe by eikonnex.ai, an artificial intelligence device that reads texts, images, and videos and transfers them to digital documents.

These are but a few of the 30 outstanding innovations from in-depth research or Deep Tech by Chulalongkorn Universities researchers and their networks supported by Chulalongkorn University Technology Center: UTC.

According to Dr. Pravee Kruachottikul who heads Chulalongkorn University Technology Center (UTC) “Good research not only contributes towards cultivating academic knowledge but can also be of added value when it is put to actual use. UTC is determined to provide a platform to accelerate Deep Tech research works onto the market by creating impactful research that sustainably addresses social and economic questions.”

Deep Tech is in-depth technology that is highly complex and cannot be easily imitated within a short time which proves advantageous in the highly competitive business arenas. Dr. Pravee also added that there are a large number of Deep Tech research in Thailand that have been published and are widely accepted internationally, but unfortunately, haven’t been utilized fully. Moreover, if researchers were to work on their own, they might not be able to add the commercial dimension to their work in a more substantial manner. UTC was therefore established to address this gap.

“Innovations deriving from Deep Tech can be patented, and are therefore able to add social and economic value following Chula’s Innovations for Society concept.”

How does UTC provide support for Deep Tech research?

Currently, UTC concentrates on working with three types of Deep Tech research, namely Artificial Intelligence (AI), Medical Technology (MedTech), and Biotechnology (BioTech). Its work begins with a search for Deep Tech research, after which UTC will work closely with the research team to improve its capacity for commercialization and specific technology readiness by UTC’s qualified specialists as well as its alliance of experts comprising experts in innovation project development, and business planning.

They will help in offering advice at various stages such as business model development, market testing, selection of commercial models, etc. Experts in business laws and patent strategies can offer advice on such matters as the IP landscape or food and drugs registration.

Specialists in specific areas, such as applied AI in medical technology will offer their advice on how to conduct clinical trials, disbursement systems, or strategies for ensuring physician’s adoption of technology, etc. There are also coaches from outside Chulalongkorn University who provide advice on innovation development, some of whom are Chula alumni, business practitioners, and those working on social projects.

Developing Deep Tech for the Innovation Market

Dr. Pravee explained that turning research into a commercialized innovation should not extend over 12 months. The process entails the three major steps:

1. The search for available research
UTC is constantly on the lookout for and welcomes submissions of research and has committees to consider plausible research projects. Once the research has been accepted, another team of experts on innovation development will oversee the project to enhance its business potentials alongside technological development until a primary business model is derived. They are then able to assess the potential of the research in providing solutions for the target market and whether there are interested customers.

2. Product Development and field testing with potential customers or actual product users.
With the derived business plan, the research team can soon develop a model that can then undergo actual market testing with the target group. UTC’s experts or coaches in various dimensions are there to provide advice after which the test results are applied to make changes or improvements as needed so that the product follows the direction set within the determined timeframe.

3. Proceeding with the commercial aspect
Once the desired product has been developed, the next step is to plan how to handle its commercial aspect to derive the highest benefits. UTC’s experts are there to provide such useful information as legal matters, patent application, the transmission of technology/patents from the university, negotiations with business partners, and fundraising for example.

UTC’s Deep Tech Innovations

For almost three years (2019 onward), the UTC has played a part in cultivating more than 36 Deep Tech research projects. At the end of 2021, the UTC Deep Tech Demo Day was organized to showcase outstanding AI and MedTech Innovations from 15 teams that showed the potential to become Thailand’s Deep Tech Startups in the future. The event had online booths displaying more than 30 AI and MedTech innovations and also featured a Business Matching activity with agencies from both the government and private sectors. Internationally renowned experts were invited to share their expertise on matters related to Deep Tech. Some of the innovations presented at the event are as follows:

ReadMe by eikonnex.ai
by researchers from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Engineering — an AI innovation with the ability to read texts in Thai and English along with symbols on documents, images, and videos and transform them into digital documents that can be used in various ways, such as company’s financial documents storage, credit scoring for bank loans, etc.

Aqua Innovac
a needleless vaccine for farmed fish by researchers from the Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University. An innovation that prevents infection from a bacterium that causes Branchiomycosis or “gill rot disease”, and reduces deaths in fish caused by stress after vaccination with needles.

DeepGI
by a joint research team from the Faculty of Engineering, and the Faculty of Medicine that features AI detection of colorectal cancer that improves diagnosis and reduces the number of examination errors.

How does one join UTC projects?

Not only does UTC lend its support to researchers affiliated with Chulalongkorn University, but it is also open to Deep Tech researchers from elsewhere, especially in the fields of AI, MedTech, and Biotech which are UTC’s main concentrations. Other Deep Tech research works are also welcome.

Dr. Pravee concluded that students who are interested in Deep Tech but do not have any research works can also join the UTC team to undergo practical training.

Chulalongkorn University’s researchers have developed a cervical cancer test kit that uses urine samples. A simple, accurate, and fast method of early detection is guaranteed for its quality by the 2021 Outstanding Inventions Award from the National Research Council of Thailand.

Cervical cancer can be cured if detected in its early stages. Many women are, however, deterred by the rather high cost of the screening procedure, and the pap smear testing method. This leads to late detection that can cause cancer to spread making it harder to treat.

Today, there is a new invention that makes cervical cancer treatment a simpler and pain-free procedure that can be done frequently.

The HPV paper-based DNA sensor testing kits for cervical cancer developed by the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University’s research team comprising Prof. Dr. Orawan Chailapakul, Dr. Prinjaporn Tee-ngam, Sarida Naorungroj, Dr. Somrak Petchcomchai along with Prof. Dr. Tirayut Vilaivan

Dr. Prinjaporn, one of the main researchers on the team discussed how this innovation was conceived, “The government has consistently urged women to get tested for cervical cancer. One of the limitations of the original form of testing which requires taking a sample of cells from the cervix on stirrups invokes fear in many women who would rather avoid the test altogether. For this reason, we have tried to find an easier way that most women would feel more comfortable with. This could help to increase the number of those being tested as well as the frequency of their tests so that if any anomalies are found, then treatment can be immediately provided.”

Getting to know cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer of women in Thailand after breast cancer with an incidence rate of 10,000 new cases per year affecting women between the ages of 30-60 and claiming as many as 5,000 deaths each year. The Ministry of Public Health recommends that from the age of 25 women should receive regular screening for cervical cancer every five years.

Prof. Dr. Orawan explains that cervical cancer is a sexually transmitted disease, mainly caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). The use of condoms as protection cannot prevent such transmission, and the HPV vaccine is not yet prevalent or provides 100% protection against cervical cancer.

She also stressed that “Most of those who have been affected are asymptomatic which makes it necessary for us to still be tested regularly since that is a crucial way to prevent us from the disease and death.”

The HPV paper-based DNA sensor testing kits

The cervical cancer testing kits are easier and much faster than the Pap Smear or Pap Tests currently in use. It eliminates the need to insert a tool and hold the vaginal walls open as well as swabbing over the cervix to take cell samples that are sent to the lab for testing.

“HPV paper-based sensor testing is a way to test the DNA of the HPV virus by using PNA (Peptide Nucleic Acid) which is a synthetic substance that imitates our DNA designed to be specific according to the cells being tested which can be specified since HPV comes in many different strains and not all strains cause cervical cancer. When designing the substance, we needed to determine which strains there were when it comes to HPV infection,” said Prof. Dr. Orawan.

The HPV paper-based sensor testing kit is something that a lot of us are already familiar with from the ATK tests we have undergone for COVID-19.

“The urine is mixed in a solution then dropped onto the paper after which we notice the change in color of the solution. Normally the color of the solution is bright red but if the urine is contaminated by the virus the color appears lighter. The brightness of the color varies according to the amount of the virus. We have an additional tool, used with the colorimeter application on smartphones that helps make the color more visible.”

Prof. Dr. Orawan assured us that the HPV paper-based sensor testing kit has been tested and shows a high level of accuracy with a sensitivity of 85%, specificity of 78%, and reproducibility rate of 100%.”

The HPV Testing Kits have not been produced for home use. They are, however, being used in health centers and community hospitals.

“In the urine, there are fewer DNA materials than in tissues, which means we need to have a device that increases the DNA level so that the change of color is more visible and the device is already in use in the clinics and community hospitals.”

How to watch over our health to stay away from cervical cancer

Prof. Dr. Orawan left us with some tips on how to help women stay safe from cervical cancer. “First, women should make sure they always keep their vaginal areas clean. Vaccinations are good but the prevention they offer isn’t a hundred percent. The best way is to have regular cervical cancer checkups for early detection and treatment.”

The research team hopes that this innovation will motivate women to get themselves tested regularly, with a simple and painless process, at an affordable price. Each test kit should not exceed 500 baht.

Prof. Dr. Orawan left us with these words. “We’d like to see women getting cervical cancer tests regularly as advised by the Ministry of Public Health. Therefore, we have tried to make the cost of these kits as low as possible to make them easily accessible. It would be ideal if women can be tested regularly, for example once a month at a health center nearby.”

Nursing facilities or agencies interested in these HPV paper-based DNA sensor testing kits may contact Prof. Dr. Orawan Chailapakul at the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, email address [email protected] for more information.