Health Groundbreaking National Centre for Microbiome Medicine & Microbial Health Technologies

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Naewna,

 

A leap in Thailand’s health and biotech sectors was announced yesterday with the official launch of the Hub of Talents in Microbiome Medicine and Microbial Technology for One Health (MMOH), the nation’s first integrated centre for advanced expertise in medical microbiome science and microbial technology for health.

 

The launch event, held at the Kamolmas Room, The Sukosol Hotel Bangkok, was a collaboration between the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), Khon Kaen University, the National Phenome Centre, leading universities and industrial partners across the country. The initiative aims to revolutionise the country’s capacity in personalised medicine, microbial biotechnology and One Health policy through a centralised hub of high-level experts.

 

MMOH has received an initial government investment of 2 million baht in the 2025 fiscal year and is designed to address urgent health challenges including chronic diseases, antibiotic resistance and weakened immunity, issues increasingly prevalent in Thai society.

 

With advancements in microbiome research now recognised as key to understanding inter-individual variation and developing precision healthcare, MMOH is poised to become a national engine for next-generation medical science.

 

A National Hub of Expertise Across Four Core Fields

 

The centre brings together specialists in four key domains:

 

1. Health Sciences and Medicine

2. Food and Pharmaceuticals

3. Medical Biotechnology

4. Agriculture and the Environment

 

This cross-disciplinary approach will drive innovation in health promotion, personalised nutrition, disease prevention and the sustainable application of beneficial microbes across human, animal, plant and environmental ecosystems.

 

Five Strategic Missions of MMOH

 

1. Human Capital Development: Train high-skill professionals in microbiome-based medicinal products (MMPs) and microbial biotechnology.

 

2. Accelerated Innovation Transfer: Bridge research and clinical application through collaboration between clinicians, scientists, and industry.

 

3. Standardisation and Policy: Develop national policy frameworks and certification systems for microbiome-based products.

 

4. International Research Visibility: Elevate Thai microbiome research onto the global stage.

 

5. Global Collaboration: Establish international networks with top institutions including Murdoch University (Australia), Imperial College London (UK), Zhejiang University and Fudan University (China).

 

Dr Suchaon Saengnipanthkul, Associate Professor and Head of MMOH, described the centre as “a strategic infrastructure linking knowledge, research and technology to create a modern and precise health system for Thailand and the ASEAN region.”

 

Ms Sirinporn Diowtrakul, Deputy Director of the NRCT, added that “Thailand urgently needs an academic hub capable of driving the BCG (Bio-Circular-Green) Economy Model and steering the nation towards sustainable biomedical and bioeconomic futures.”

 

Khon Kaen University President, Assoc. Prof. Dr Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, affirmed the university’s full support for MMOH as a training ground for the next generation of researchers and innovators, while Ms Nijaporn Chongudomrerk, CEO of Mod Gut Co., Ltd., welcomed the centre as “a much-needed bridge linking research outcomes to the design of truly personalised health products.”

 

Dr Jutarop Petcharaburanin, Deputy Head of MMOH and Director of the National Phenome Centre, concluded: “Thailand has the potential to become a regional leader in microbiome medicine. MMOH is a critical step in advancing sustainable health technologies for both Thais and the global community.”

 

As microbiome science continues to shape the future of medicine, MMOH’s launch represents a bold move by Thailand to position itself at the forefront of this transformative field.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Naewna 2025-07-25