The work of “Watcharin Rukkhachaisirikul”, researcher of organic chemistry The discoverer of the prototype drug from Thai mold resources from Prince of Songkhla University Received the Outstanding Scientist Award 2023 Received the award from Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s Department
On August 9, 2023, Foundation for the Promotion of Science and Technology under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King hold a press conference Announcement of the outstanding scientist award winners and the 2023 Young Scientist Award, which has been held for 41 consecutive years. gave congratulatory remarks and gave plaques to the awardees, with Prof. Dr. Chamras Limtrakul, Chairman of the Distinguished Scientist Award Committee. and the awardees attended the press conference at Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao, Bangkok.
Prof. Dr. Chamras Limtrakul, Chairman of the Distinguished Scientist Award Committee, said that changing Thailand from being a technology buyer to being an innovator like the world’s leading countries. It is necessary to study the trends in science and technology development at that time, such as from MIT Technology Review or Breakthrough Technologies 2023, which is focusing on the development of technologies such as CRISPR for gene editing to reduce cholesterol levels, the use of AI to draw. Picture from a short order, production of implants for use in humans (Organs on Demand), entering the era of Electric Vehicle (EV), energy storage in the form of batteries. and the use of DNA sequencing technology of ancient humans, etc., by published research and patents. Asian countries, especially China, are leading the world. This will be a great inspiration for Thailand to move in that direction as well.
“For Thailand, to raise the level to move towards the development in that direction. need to rely on various factors especially to encourage investment in research To accelerate the creation of leading scientists and researchers to meet the needs These are all important factors in pushing the Eastern Economic Corridor of Innovation (EECi) project and other special economic zones in Thailand to be strong and sustainable. and is the driving force that will help unlock the country from the state of ‘middle-income trap’ and moving towards becoming a developed country”
for this year Outstanding Scientist Award Committee It was unanimously resolved that Prof. Dr. Watcharin Rukkhachaisirikul Under the Department of Physical Sciences Faculty of Science Prince of Songkhla University “The discoverer of natural products from Thai mold resources that are prototypes for drug development” received the Outstanding Scientist Award 2023, receiving an award from Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. Department of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and prize money of 400,000 baht
Prof. Dr. Watcharin Rukkhachaisirikul More than 179 research papers, of which more than 105 are interdisciplinary studies on metabolites from endophytic fungi, marine fungi and molds, with the aim of finding structured natural products. prototype in drug development As a result, we have stockpile more than 1,100 natural and biological products and discovered key compounds that are laboratory-level prototypes with higher or equivalent efficacy than standard drugs. and showed no cytotoxic effect on normal cells and test cells such as lipid lowering agents. Chloride channel protein inhibitors associated with asthma and diarrhea antibacterial Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and anti-breast cancer agents The mechanism of action of the model in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo showed that it reduced lipids in the blood and inhibited chloride channel proteins. can be developed into new potential drugs
In addition, a method for mass synthesis of these prototypes was obtained. and the process of cultivating new sources of fungi that produces lovastatin lipid-lowering drugs that yield higher yields than commercial varieties It is currently in the process of searching for target proteins of lipid-lowering prototypes. and inhibition of chloride-mediated channel proteins by proteomics. It is therefore recognized that Professor Dr. Watcharin has played an important role in leading the country’s leading research group on fungal metabolites and their bioactivity. that plays an important role in creating sustainability in drug discovery in Thailand
For the 2023 Young Scientist Award, it was bestowed by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. Department of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and prize money of 100,000 baht, including
1. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Prasopchai Patrojanasopon Industrial Pharmacy Faculty of Pharmacy Silpakorn University inventor and research developer “Development of a mucosal-adhered drug delivery system for specific drug delivery and development of pharmaceutical innovations for drug delivery.”
2. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Suparerk Praserttham, Department of Chemical Engineering Faculty of Engineering Chulalongkorn University inventor and research developer “Computational catalytic engineering for the screening of catalysts, biocatalysts, and supporting new investigator research in the sectors of advanced studies and small and medium industries.”
3. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chintan Areeprasert, Department of Mechanical Engineering Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, who invents and develops research “Processing biomass and different types of waste into energy or value-added products”
