Asia’s Leader in Tropical Medicine Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University Annual Review 2008 ISSN 1686-381X Faculty of Tropical Medicine Mahidol University 420/6 Ratchawithi Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand Tel: 66 (0) 2354-9100-19 Fax: 66 (0) 2354-9139 Homepage: http://www.tm.mahidol.ac.th Annual Review 2008 Long Live the King! th Celebrating the 80 Birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej 5 December 2007 Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University ANNUAL REVIEW 2008 Message from the Dean The Year 2007 brought elation to the whole country, as we enthusiastically celebrated the 80th Birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, on 5 December 2007. The following Annual Review 2008 represents an overview of the activities of the Faculty of Tropical Medicine for the calendar year 2007. The Faculty of Tropical Medicine is designated as the SEAMEO TROPMED Regional Center for Tropical Medicine (TROPMED/Thailand), the WHO Collaborating Centre for Environmental Management for Disease Vector Control, and the WHO Collaborating Centre for Clinical Management of Malaria. This Review reflects the integration of these roles into the Faculty’s overall activities. The Faculty continued to perform and advance strongly in all of its core operational areas--basic & clinical research, education & training, and the provision of healthcare & medical services--to consolidate our status as “Asia’s Leader in Tropical Medicine”. We also saw several substantial infrastructure improvements during the year, with staff occupying the new 8-floor administration building, and renovations at the Bangkok School of Tropical Medicine and the Hospital for Tropical Diseases. The Thai Government also approved a new Hospital building and accommodation for the Faculty’s several Centers of Excellence, with construction due to start in early 2008. Mahidol University was transformed into an autonomous institution on 16 October 2007. We hope this systemic change will strengthen and facilitate the Faculty’s efficiency, flexibility, and ability to achieve our goals for the benefit of the Nation. I wish to thank the staff of the Faculty, and all of our collaborators and supporters, for their admirable dedication to Tropical Medicine throughout 2007, and am pleased to commend this Annual Review 2008 to you. Assoc. Prof. Pratap Singhasivanon Dean Faculty of Tropical Medicine Mahidol University Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University ANNUAL REVIEW 2008 Contents Message from the Dean................................................................................................................3 Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................5 Organization Chart, Faculty of Tropical Medicine .......................................................................9 Administrative Board ................................................................................................................10 Heads of Department/Center/Unit .............................................................................................11 Faculty Board, Faculty Senate ...................................................................................................12 Consultants, Visiting Professors ................................................................................................12 Office of the Dean ....................................................................................................................13 SEAMEO TROPMED Regional Centre for Tropical Medicine (TROPMED/Thailand) ................14 WHO Collaborating Centre for Clinical Management of Malaria ..............................................15 WHO Collaborating Centre for Environmental Management for Disease Vector Control in Sustainable Development ...................................................................................................16 MOUs/Agreements/International Linkages ................................................................................17 Special Events During 2007 ......................................................................................................18 Departments/Center/Units • Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine ...........................................................................21 • Department of Helminthology .............................................................................................24 • Department of Medical Entomology ....................................................................................27 • Department of Microbiology and Immunology ....................................................................29 • Department of Protozoology................................................................................................31 • Department of Social and Environmental Medicine .............................................................32 • Department of Tropical Hygiene .........................................................................................33 • Department of Tropical Nutrition and Food Science ...........................................................35 • Department of Tropical Pathology .......................................................................................37 • Department of Tropical Pediatrics .......................................................................................39 • Department of Tropical Radioisotopes .................................................................................40 • Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU) ................................................41 • Vaccine Trial Centre (VTC) .................................................................................................43 • Data Management Unit (DMU)............................................................................................45 • Field Research Stations .......................................................................................................46 Education and Training • Bangkok School of Tropical Medicine; ...............................................................................47 • Training Courses 2007 ........................................................................................................52 • Rajvithi Campus Library ......................................................................................................53 • TROPMED International House ..........................................................................................53 The Hospital for Tropical Diseases ............................................................................................54 Research in Process 2007 ..........................................................................................................57 Tropmed Publications 2007 ......................................................................................................66 Research Reports .......................................................................................................................74 Executive Editor: Jitra Waikagul Editor: Paul Adams Coordinator: Pornpimon Adams Editorial Staff: Chatinee Kanayart, Warissara Chaiyapant, Pitchapa Vutikes, Duangduen Phienpicharn, Sivaporn Samung Graphic Design and Layout: Ronnachai Rarerng Photographer: Tawan Wattanakul Produced by: Publications Unit, Research and Academic Services, Office of the Dean, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University ANNUAL REVIEW 2008 Executive Summary Research The Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, important feature of its recent evolution and we have validated is strongly committed to high-quality research into the typing schemes based on MLST that will be essential for our tropical diseases. Research activities range from molecular understanding of disease epidemiology and pathogenesis studies to community level, covering more than 20 diseases including vector-borne diseases, such as malaria and dengue, melioidosis, soil- and water-borne diseases, and other communicable and non-communicable diseases endemic to the Tropics. The current research programs include clinical trials, laboratory research, field and epidemiological studies, vaccine trials, assessment of future drugs for avian influenza, and assessment of the health effects of unpredicted natural hazards and disasters. The Faculty is a pioneer research hub in conducting HIV/AIDS vaccine trials, assessment of the efficacy of antiretroviral therapies, assessment of treatments for opportunistic infections, epidemiological surveys, and analyzing social risk factors. The Faculty is well placed to conduct high quality research, having a well-established Ethics Committee, Clinical Pharmacology Unit, a state-of-the- art Data Management Unit, a board of research consultants, and the dedicated support of the Research and Academic Services Unit. The Faculty encourages collaborative studies through both local and international linkages, and is currently affiliated with more than 20 leading research institutes on all continents of the globe. As part of our support for research into the tropical diseases all around the world, we provide international postgraduate education and training in tropical Leptospirosis In a large prospective study, we medicine for scientists, physicians, and others from all identified scrub typhus (caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi) nations. and leptospirosis as