May 19, 2006

Thailand seek Japanese partnership to jointly research bird flu cure

Thailand hopes to collaborate research with Japan's Riken Science Research Institute to produce drugs to combat bird flu, Science and Technology Minister Pravich Rattanapien said on a visit to the institute Thursday (May 18).

The joint effort follows successes in malaria and tuberculosis research between the two countries, Rattanapien said

Riken, Japan's leading research and development institute, conducts research projects in various fields, including biology and medical sciences. The institute recently identified a protein which could lead to the development of drugs for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

The minister also hopes Riken would undertake to train more scientists in Thailand through the setting up of an institute.

He said Thailand needs more scientists to improve the level of scientific research even though its National Centre for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (BIOTEC) has made significant progress in dengue fever and rice.