First Joint-Institute Forum: Metabolome-Microbiome in Clinical Research

 

On April 21, 2021, the Departments of Biochemistry, Surgery, and the Clinical Epidemiology Unit, and Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University (MDKKU) organized the first online Joint-Institute Forum (JIF) 1/2021 on the topic ‘Metabolome-Microbiome in Clinical Research’.

The welcome speech was given by Dr. Jutarop Phetcharaburanin- Assistant to the Dean for Research and International Relations Affairs, MDKKU “It is such a great opportunity to learn and share insights of metabolome and microbiome in several disease models and update on the advances of modern research methodologies that can be employed in the omics science for everyone”.

Following the opening ceremony, there was a talk by international expert Dr. Jia Li, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, UK on ‘Multi-Omics of Weight-Loss Surgery’, followed by,

Dr. Jutarop Petcharaburanin, Department of Biochemistry, on ‘Fecal Metabolome-Microbiome Panel Biomarkers in Cancer’,

Associate Professor Watcharin Loilome, Department of Biochemistry, on ‘Intratumoral Microbiome in Cholangiocarcinoma’, and, finally by

Dr. Kanokrat Thaiwatcharamas, Department of Surgery, on ‘Microbiome and Metabolome in Hirschsprung’s Disease’.

The first Joint-Institute Forum was successfully held with 129 participants from the educational and industrial sectors around the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Written by Kanokphorn H.

Edited by John Smith

 

Newsletter Issue 2-2564

Statement from Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University (MDKKU) on Medical Officials Infected with COVID-19

 

On April 4, 2021, Associate Professor Apichat Jiravuttipong, MD, Dean of Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University (MDKKU) made the following statement about two Srinagarind Hospital -based medical officials who have been infected with COVID-19:

 

  1. Summary of situation
    • Following disease investigation, two MDKKU medical officials have been found infected with COVID-19.
    • MDKKU has already finished the primary disease screening and identified those who were in contact with the two index cases. Currently, all individuals at high and moderate risk are being COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tested and testing will be complete today. Low-risk individuals will be called in for COVID-19 PCR testing as the next priority. Meanwhile, PCR results for the first group of high–risk individuals are all negative as of April 3, 2021.

 

 

  1. Measures for care and prevention of COVID-19 outbreaks within MDKKU

MDKKU has well-prepared strategies for care and prevention of COVID-19 outbreaks and has now moved to alert-level 5 emphasizing the following:

 

  • Cancelation, or, delay of elective surgery: Due to operating room exposure to the index cases, some operating rooms (ORs) have to be cleaned. So, we have to limit OR services.
  • Other services: Hospital services will still be provided. However, non-urgent and non-emergency conditions should be avoided between 3 – 18 April
  • Disinfection in the hospital areas: All risk and non-risk areas of Srinagarind Hospital are being continually disinfected using ozone disinfection for 30 minutes to completely destroy pathogens.
  • Teaching and learning: All course coordinators have already been advised to arrange online classrooms until further notice. We would like to ensure students that degree completion will follow the planned regular milestone.
  • Proactive screening: Srinagarind Hospital will provide testing for non-MDKKU individuals who are considered at-risk and live in the same residential property as the index cases. Department of Community Medicine, together with primary care unit (PCU) team has already assessed the risk for all risk groups. Those considered at high-risk have been being called in for PCR testing and the moderate- to low-risk groups will be the upcoming priority. The testing is expected to be fully achieved for all risk groups within these two days and the result will be officially announced to public by then.

 

 

 

Associate Professor Songsak Kiatchoosakun, MD, Director, Srinagarind Hospital said that since two COVID-19 medical staff were admitted at Srinagarind Hospital, hospital services must be adjusted to maximize patients’ safety as follows:

  1. Out-patients will be reduced to 50 percent.  Patients with stable symptoms and have enough number of home medication are recommended to come to the hospital after April 18, 2021 for repeat prescriptions.    Medical appointments can be postponed through the Line Official of the Faculty of Medicine, KKU, ID: @MDKKU.  Drug delivery is also available now.
  2. For in-patients, elective surgery will be postponed, and extended hours clinic will be reduced between April 3 and 18, Only emergency surgery will be conducted.
  3. Medical services at Queen Sirikit Heart Center of the Northeast will be available as usual. 

 

We, at Sringarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University would like to apologize for any inconvenience these changes may cause.  Popular social media contains much information and fast communication, however, personal opinions and information there are often inaccurate and unreliable.   Therefore, please kindly focus on  information from  official media sources of the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University (www.md.kku.ac.th or Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/medkku), and   COVID-19 announcements from  the Khon Kaen Provincial Health Office (https://www.facebook.com/kkpho.go.th).

 

 

 

 

 

 

KKU Medicine launches MDKKU CARE App to meet the digital age and upgrade people’s quality of life

 

March 30, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. – Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University held a press conference on the launching of the MDKKU CARE App at the Ground Floor of Galayanivadhananusorn Building, Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University.

The “MDKKU CARE App – One App for all services” launching event was honored to have Dr. Somsak Jungtrakoon, Khon Kaen Governor to preside over with Assoc. Prof. Apichat Jirawutthipong, M.D., Dean of the Faculty of Medicine. After the opening ceremony, there were special talks as follows: “Khon Kaen, the Smart City” by Dr. Somsak Jungtrakoon, Khon Kaen Governor; “Srinagarind, the Smart Hospital” by Assoc. Prof. Songsak Kiatchusakul, M.D., Director of Srinagarind Hospital; “Smart Hospital and Smart OPD” by Assoc. Prof. Cholathip Pongsakul, M.D., Assistant to the Dean of Faculty of Medicine for the Excellence Center and Health Service Center; and “MDKKU CARE Smart Application” by Dr. Paitoon Pratiphanawat, M.D., Assistant to the Dean of Faculty of Medicine.

MDKKU CARE is an application developed from the collaboration between Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and the Siam Commercial Bank. The application is meant for upgrading the health care service of Srinagarind Hospital because a lot of patients make a visit to the hospital for different health care services. Due to the great number of clients, services could take a long time. This application will enable patients to have quicker access to treatment and health care.

Dr. Somsak Jungtrakoon, Khon Kaen Governor, gave talk on the development of Khon Kaen into a Smart City that this comprises 7 smart elements, namely, Smart Mobility, Smart Living, Smart People, Smart Economy, Smart Environment, Smart Government, and Smart Energy. However, it is necessary in the process to take into consideration the medical services involved in the provincial development.

“The design and development of the MDKKU CARE Application for the patients is very good, for it will make the people of Khon Kaen and people from cities nearby who come to the hospital receive efficient and quick services.  The work means the progress and success which is the optimal goal of Khon Kaen University’s international medical school,” Khon Kaen Governor said.

Assoc. Prof. Apichat Jirawutthipong, M.D., Dean of the Faculty of Medicine added that the MDKKU CARE Application has been designed and developed for 3 years, and is aimed at providing efficient health services to those coming to Srinagarind Hospital. It can be used to replace the patient’s identification card, show the patient’s health information, the appointment date and medication receiving queue. It can also check the treatment service 6 months before the present stage and the patient’s history of prescribed medication.

“The registration for MDKKU CARE App requires identification using the Hospital Number (HN), telephone number and the citizen identification number. After registration, the patient can verify his or her rights and pay through the application or the automatic cash machine. However, payment using QR code and Mobile Banking are still now under the process of service opening of the bank, in which a new version is being developed. The patients who have no HN card, but have applied to receive treatment at Srinagarind Hospital, can also pre-register. This service will indeed benefit the patients coming to Srinagarind,” the Dean of the Faculty said.

Assoc. Prof. Songsak Kiatchusakul, M.D., Director of Srinagarind Hospital   , explained about the upgrading of Srinagarind Hospital to a Smart Hospital, that the hospital provides service to an average of 1,000,000 outpatient cases and 45,000 inpatient cases per year. There are, therefore, a lot of patients coming to the hospital each day. MDKKU CARE App, besides lessening the workload of the medical officers, means these health professionals will have more time to spend on their patients. The objective is also for the patient to spend minimum time at the hospital with maximum benefits.

“In addition to this, Srinagarind Hospital also aims at providing all kinds of medical services, including: Smart Ems, which is being developed in order to make the health care and treatment quick and effective, with CCTV, GPS, Monitoring systems established so that the doctors can communicate with all officers abruptly at the point of incident, can make an order and give treatment directly and quickly; Smart ICU, another system that will follow up treatment closely;  and Smart OPD, for making appointment for special examination without having to wait for a long time. Now the efficiency of the Application is 70-80% and hopefully it will be 100% within this year,” Srinagarind Hospital Director said.

The development of MDKKU CARE Application will benefit the patients coming to the hospital as well as the health professionals at the hospital. Srinagarind Hospital is the first public hospital in the Northeast to develop this application, which will help lead the Faculty towards being an international medical school in the near future.

Patients can download MDKKU CARE App as the Playstore at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kku.mdkkucare

And App Store at: https://apps.apple.com/th/app/md-kku-care/id1558331307

For more information, please add LINE at LINE ID: MDKKU

 

 

 

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Digital Health Education: What is needed in the 21st century curriculum?

 

– 60-minute symposium led by Imperial College London’s Dr. Georgina Neve, Dr. Viral Thakerar, Dr. Renee Ewe and MBBS students

Wednesday 24th March at 09:00 GMT / 17:00 SGT

 

Digital health is rapidly transforming health care, however teaching on digital health in medical schools has not kept up with the pace of change. In this student-led symposium, we will explore what is needed from a 21st century medical curriculum on digital health, to prepare students for clinical practice in digitally driven health systems.

We will present an overview of the current and near future digital health landscape, and examples from the literature of how institutions have integrated digital health in their medical curricula. Students from Imperial College London will then present their vision for a digital health curriculum, covering five digital health themes: prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring. We will then invite questions and discussion in this important and topical area.

 

Faculty

Dr. Georgina Neve – Honorary Clinical Research Fellow, Department of Primary Care

Dr. Viral Thakerar – Module Lead for Patients, Communities and Healthcare, Digital Theme Lead for MEdIC

Dr. Renee Ewe – Academic Clinical Fellow in General Practice

 

Students

Srinivasan, Sarvesh – 5th year Medical Student at Imperial College London

Drmota, Jan – 4th year Medical Student at Imperial College London

Jefferies, Petula – 5th year Medical Student at Imperial College London

Mahmud, Simran – 4th year Medical Student at Imperial College London

Harris, Isaac – 4th year Medical Student at Imperial College London

Ng, Kaa-Yung – 4th year Medical Student at Imperial College London

 

Register your free place here:

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TbslNHCXS_G1ks3kpSCBCA

 

International Professor courtesy visit to MDKKU Dean

 

On March 15, 2021, Professor Kondo Hisatake, Department of Anatomy, paid a courtesy visit to Associate Professor Apichat Jiravuttipong, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, for the renewal of his KKU International Resident Professor ship from December 25, 2020 to May 31, 2021.

Professor Kondo Hisatake has been a KKU International Resident Professor visiting the Department of anatomy, the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University since 2012. He is also a:

  1. A member of the Board of Directors of the JapaneseAssociation of Anatomists
  2. A member of the medical doctorate qualification committee in the National Institution for Academic Degrees, an outside branch of the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan
  3. A member of the evaluation committee of JSPS (Japan Science Promotion Society)
  4. A member of the Board of Directors of the Japanese Association ofAnatomy

A representative(=dean) of the School of Medicine for the Council of Tohoku University

 

 

KKU holds a Spring Virtual Global Health Experience (Pilot Program) together with USAC and Clemson University Projects, USA

 

On March 15-19, 2021 International Affairs organized the Spring Virtual Global Health Experience (Pilot program not-for-credit) in cooperation with University Study Abroad Consortium (USAC) and Clemson University, United State of America. The program was led by Asst. Prof. Acharawan Topark-Ngarm, Assistant to the President for International Affairs, together with the faculty members from the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Dentistry, the Faculty of Nursing, and the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences There were 14 Khon Kaen University students and 12 Clemson University students participating in this program.

On 15 March the topic was the Overview of Public Healthcare in Thailand, lectured by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Supatra Chadbunchachai, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. The second topic was Thailand’s Health System by Dr. Sauwanan Bumrerraj, MD, Faculty of Medicine.

On March 16 is the second day of the program starting with a lecture by Assist. Prof. Pattapong Kessomboon, Faculty of Medicine, about Primary Health Care and examples of primary care units in Khon Kaen. The second topic was Primary Health Care and Health Promotion and Prevention by Assist. Prof. Dr. Juraporn Tangpukdee, Faculty of Nursing. Moreover, the nursing students shared their knowledge about individual care patient care and community care.

On March 17, Assist. Prof. Dr. Teekayu Plangkoon Jorns from the Faculty of Dentistry gave a lecture on the topic of Oral Health Care in Thailand. There was also a lecture about community dentistry and dental education in Thailand by a 6th year student from the Faculty of Dentistry. The second lesson was Thai Traditional Medicine and Thai Herbs by Assist. Prof Dr. Srisomporn Preprame from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

On March 18 began the lesson by Assist. Prof. Acharawan Topark-Ngarm, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the topic about Community Pharmacist in Thailand. It also describes the role of Pharmacists in drugstores. An example of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention was shared by Ms. Nadthatida Hansuri, a pharmacist from Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

The last day of the program was an activity for both Khon Kaen University students and Clemson University students to share their visions, presented what they have learnt the past four days, and reflected their knowledge from the programs. The lecturers joined the activity to give feedback and reflect on the students learning outcomes.

The Spring Virtual Global Health Experience (Pilot program not-for-credit) is a short-term online teaching and learning pilot course which was highly successful. Following this first performance, Khon Kaen University plans to expand to virtual courses in different fields including academic activities such as training of professional experiences (internship), exchange program, training program, and mobility program etc.

 

 

 

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British Embassy delegation visits Newton-Funded MD-KKU collaborative research in Cholangiocarcinoma

 

Associate Professor Apichat Jiravuttipong, MD, Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University welcomed Miss Alexandra McKenzie, Deputy Head of Mission, British Embassy Bangkok, and delegates, on her visit to visit the MD-KKU laboratory that first discovered Innate Immunity factors relating to Cholangiocarcinoma.  The purpose of the visit was to follow up the progress of Newton-Funded collaboration between UK Universities and MD-KKU.  The welcome was held on March 12, 2021, in Nong Waeng Meeting room, Dean’s Office.

 

 

 

Professor Banchob Sripa, Principal Investigator, MD-KKU Tropical Disease Research Laboratory, WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Control of Opisthorchiasis,  presented on the collaborative work of the “Newton Funded liver fluke research between University of Liverpool-UK and MD-KKU”.  Following that, Deputy Head of Mission, British Embassy and delegates visited the Tropical Disease Research Laboratory, WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Control of Opisthorchiasis (Southeast Asian Liver Fluke Disease).

 

 

 

The major Newton Fund collaborative research between the two institutions focuses on the mechanism of innate immunity in Cholangiocarcinoma.  This phenomena was first reported on by this collaborative project and has resulted in 2 international publications to date and another in preparation.

Over the past 5-years (2015-2020), MD-KKU and University of Liverpool has had active academic exchanges 6 undergraduate students, 2 master degree students, 2 Junior staff. Master degree students from Liverpool University have researched   innate immunity in cholangiocarcinoma at MD-KKU for 9 months, with University of Liverpool staff visiting for supervision.  In 2017, MD-KKU hosted an international conference with University of Liverpool, and the same year, the Dean of MD-KKU and administrators visited the School of Tropical Medicine at University of Liverpool.

Over the past five years, UK Research Funding awards to the MD-KKU Tropical Disease Research Laboratory and WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Control of Opisthorchiasis (Southeast Asian Liver Fluke Disease) include:

  • Newton Fund Institution Link Grant.   
  • The Royal Society
  • Newton Fund Impact Scheme

And, a recent grant submission to the UK Medical Research Fund (MRC) has been approved in the first evaluation round.

In addition to the collaborative research activities with Tropical Diseases Research Laboratory, WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Control of Opisthorchiasis, there is another MD-KKU research group that has received Newton Fund Project Grant support.  It is the Research Project  “Targeting the FOXM1 signature for early diagnosis and treatment in Cholangiocarcinoma” (2016-2018) an active e collaboration between an Imperial College London (ICL)  research team led  by  Professor Eric Lam, Department of Surgery and Cancer, ICL, Principal Investigator, and a MD-KKU research team led by  Professor Sopit Wongkham, Co-investigator.

On this visit, the Deputy Head of Mission, and her delegates learnt about the MD-KKU’s International Researchers’ achievements and further opportunities for collaborative partnerships to sustain research leadership and promote SMART HEALTHCARE connectivity.

Other delegates from British Embassy were Miss Pafan Aumnuysawat, Assistant for Marketing and Investment, and Miss Lalita Filhavest, Newton Fund Manager.

MD-KKU Dean’s colleagues attending the meeting were;

Assoc. Prof. Wimonrat Sriraj, MD Associate Dean for Research and International Relations Affairs;

Dr. Jutarop Phetcharaburanin Assistant to the Dean for Research and International Relations Affairs;

Prof. Banchob Sripa, Principal Investigator, Tropical Disease Research Center & Department of Pathology;

Prof. John F. Smith English Specialist;

Asst. Prof. Sutas Suttiprapa, Asst. Prof. Prasert Saichua, Dr Kanin Salao,   and Dr. Sujittra Chaiyadet, all from the Tropical Diseases Research Center and Postgraduate Students.

 

 

KKU to move forward and exchange visions on AI in Healthcare

 

On March 9, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Bayasita Hotel. Khon Kaen University Foreign Affairs Division Organized an activity to strengthen the network of AI in Healthcare under the theme of “AI Khon Kaen, follow your dreams” to exchange ideas and experiences in operating AI in Healthcare among project participants, to promote human potential for artificial intelligence excellence (AI) by studying an online course Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Healthcare organized by the MIT Critical Data Team. Following the exchange of knowledge on this occasion, the participants presented management ideas about how to further implement AI operations for Khon Kaen University, namely the management and shared use of centralised information systems, having consulting agencies, continue to develop human resources in AI, as well as promote the integration across sciences. Develop AI courses to gain recognition both nationally and internationally etc.

 

 

In addition, this activity was honored by Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, President of Khon Kaen University, who presided as chairman to congratulate the project participants, along with expressing the visions of Khon Kaen University on AI in Healthcare. The president said: “Khon Kaen University aims to provide courses in AI in Healthcare with the objective to produce graduates and qualified staff in AI in Healthcare in Thailand, including providing services and innovations. Innovation has pushed Thailand to be reputable on AI in Healthcare at international level.

 

 

 

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