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Mahidol University And Osaka University Center |
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| Mahidol
University and Osaka University Collaborative
Research Center (MU-OU:CRC) for Bioscience
and Biotechnology |
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| Rationale |
| MU-OU:CRC was established at the Faculty of Science, Mahidol University in 2002 to
conduct advanced research in the fields
of Bioscience and Biotechnology. By combining
and integrating various fields, the MU-OU:CRC
aims to improve the quality of people’s
lives by focusing on basic research/applications
in the sustainable utilization of the abundant
natural resources of Southeast Asian countries.
Modern equipment, provided jointly by Mahidol
University and Osaka University, are available
within the CRC, including capillary DNA
sequencer, automatic protein purification
system, PCR including Real-time PCR system,
and 2D-gel electrophoresis. The highly qualified
expertise of the staff members, together
with sophisticated equipment, will enable
the CRC to tackle interesting problems at
the forefront of Biotechnology. |
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| Foundation of MU-OU:CRC |
 Mahidol
University and Osaka University have had
long term co-operation in the field of applied
microbiology. Since 1978, the Japan Society
for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) has
carried out special bilateral exchange programs
with universities in Southeast Asian countries.
Initially, the “Core university system”
was exploited with the designated universities
playing leading roles in the co-operative
activities. The program with Thailand, which
later expanded to the field of biotechnology,
is one of the first and most successful
examples of these cooperative programs.
Osaka University serves as the core university
to co-ordinate the activities of cooperating
universities and researchers in Japan, while
the counterpart core university in Thailand
was Kasetsart University from 1978 to 1985
and Mahidol University from 1985 to the
present. Hence, 30 years of close cooperation
between Osaka and Mahidol Universities in
the field of biotechnology have now merged
into a multilateral co-operative research
program, involving several Asian countries. |
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| Cooperative Research Station in
Southeast Asia (CRS) International Center
for Biotechnology, Osaka University. |
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 Rationale
The International Center for Biotechnology
(ICBiotech), Osaka University,
is dedicated to promote international cooperation
among Asian countries in terms of research
and education in the field of Biotechnology.
Since its establishment in 1978, ICBiotech
has built up extensive experience in the
international collaboration on science and
education, particularly with Southeast Asian
countries. In addition, a UNESCO International
Post-graduate Course in Microbiology, a
one-year training course, has been conducted,
since 1973 by ICBiotech with the cooperation
of major Japanese universities (Osaka University,
Tohoku University, The University of Tokyo,
Kyoto University, and Kyushu University)
and has trained 411 researchers from various
Asian countries. Financial support is derived
mainly from the Japanese government. From
2004, new program (UNESCO Postgraduate Inter
University Course in Biotechnology) has
been conducted with some matching funds
from the Faculty of Science, Mahidol University
as well as National Center for Genetic Engineering
and Biotechnology (BIOTEC). Thai staff members
from Mahidol University (MU), Chulalongkorn
University (CU), King Mongkut's University
of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), Kasetsart
University (KU) and BIOTEC also contribute
significantly to this new training course.
ICBiotech has also carried out the core
university program of Japan Society for
the Promotion of Science (JSPS) in the field
of Biotechnology under the strong partnership
with Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, and
Malaysia since 1978. |
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| Foundation of CRS |
ICBiotech carries out an array of scientific
cooperative programs and initiatives based
on its belief that scientific research is
essentially international cooperation. In
2001, the Ministry of Education, Culture,
Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) has
launched “A Policy for the Structural
Reform of National Universities.”
Through this new system, ICBiotech with
the supportive agreement from Osaka University,
has set up its first branch office namely
Cooperative Research Station in Southeast
Asia (CRS) at Mahidol University, official
opened on December 23, 2002.
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| Activities of MU-OU:CRC and CRS |
| MU-OU:CRC and CRS have organized several
activities including seminars, workshops
and joint programs with UNESCO, which involve
the international exchange of university
students and researchers, such as student
scientific camp and a one-year UNESCO training
course in biotechnology. MU-OU:CRC and CRS
has also organized advanced research co-operation
for Thai researchers with the National Research
Council of Thailand (NRCT), which provides
budget for Thai researchers from many universities
and institutes to do research work in the
center for 1 to 3 months. |
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| The current activity between Osaka and
Mahidol universities also includes a course
in biotechnology, open during the second
semester covering the period from November
to February of the following year. Currently,
two servers were donated by Osaka University
to the Faculty of Science, Mahidol University.
One sever is at Mahidol University Computer
Center (MUCC) and the another server is
at Department of Biotechnology. Both servers
will be used in the cyber course lectures
between the two universities. |
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| Mahidol University, with staff from Department
of Biotechnology and from other Departments,
has conducted the scientific research with
staff from ICBiotech, Osaka University,
together with staff from other universities
and institutes, from both Japan and Thailand.
The research emphasis of the center is on
the development of sustainable utilization
of biological resources, particularly the
microorganisms of industrial importance.
The research focuses on the use of multidisciplinary
fields to search new resources, and to improve
their productivity through various genetic
tools for their applications. Recent topics
include screening for novel bacterial species
and novel bioactive compounds from actinomycetes
with animal cells as a test system, as well
as molecular study and optimization of bacteriocin
production from lactic acid bacteria, etc. |
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| Contact |
Name: Prof. Dr. Watanalai Panbangred
E-mail: scwpb@mahidol.ac.th
Address: 5th Floor, Chalermprakiet building,
Faculty of Science, Mahidol University,
Rama VI Rd., Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
Tel: +66(0) 2201-5920-21,
Fax: +66(0) 2201-5926.Name: Prof. Dr. Takuya Nihira
E-mail: nihira@icb.osaka-u.ac.jp
Address: The International Center for
Biotechnology, 2-1 Yamada-oka, Suita,
Japan 565-0871
Tel: +81-6-6879-7455
Fax: +81-6-6879-7454 |
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