Yuthavong Y
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Thailand.
Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 1988 Mar;19(1):1-3.
Biotechnology research in Thailand owes its origins to the strength in biomedical and life sciences in the academia, and the importance of agriculture in the economy. With growing awareness of the impact of new biotechnology including genetic engineering, biotechnology R & D centres were set up in the universities, and the National Centre for Genetic Engineering and biotechnology was created in 1983. The National Center functions as the center for policy and planning in biotechnology, for support of important research, development and technology transfer projects in designated institutions, and serves to link these institutions with the private sector. The aim is to develop specific biotechnology areas from laboratory stages up to pilot-scale, with emphasis on transfer and utilization of genetic engineering and biotechnology in various fields including public health had on strengthening of basic infrastructure in relevant disciplines. The National Center has 4 affiliated laboratories, including pilot plants, and over 30 projects in 9 institutions in the network. Recently the Science and Technology for Development Program has also devoted a part of its substantial funding to support various biotechnology research projects. With regard to biotechnology research relevant to the study of animal parasites and their vectors, the work in Thailand has up to now concentrated more on the application of new techniques in clinical laboratory and field work than in industrial productions. Specific contributions from the Unit of Parasite Biochemistry, Mahidol University, were given as illustrative examples.
泰国的生物技术研究源于学术界在生物医学和生命科学方面的实力，以及农业在经济中的重要性。随着人们对包括基因工程在内的新生物技术影响的认识不断提高，各大学纷纷设立了生物技术研发中心，并于1983年成立了国家基因工程和生物技术中心。该国家中心作为生物技术政策和规划的中心，为指定机构的重要研究、开发和技术转让项目提供支持，并致力于将这些机构与私营部门联系起来。其目标是将特定的生物技术领域从实验室阶段发展到中试规模，重点是在包括公共卫生在内的各个领域转让和应用基因工程和生物技术，以及加强相关学科的基础设施建设。国家中心有4个附属实验室，包括中试工厂，在其网络中的9个机构中有30多个项目。最近，科学与发展计划也将其大量资金的一部分用于支持各种生物技术研究项目。关于与动物寄生虫及其传播媒介研究相关的生物技术研究，泰国目前的工作更多地集中在新技术在临床实验室和现场工作中的应用，而非工业生产。玛希隆大学寄生虫生物化学研究室的具体贡献被作为实例列举。
