Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) remains a serious public health concern in Thailand. The study reported a high number of CCA in the North East of Thailand and posed the highest number in the world – 135 men and 48 women per 100,000 population. The disease killed 14,000 population every year because of having uncooked freshwater fish and the evidence implicated the carcinogenic liver fluke in the patients.

The Thesis on “IMPROVEMENT OF DENDRITIC CELL FUNCTIONS ON THE ACTIVATION OF EFFECTOR IMMUNE CELLS AGAINST CHOLANGIOCARCINOMA CELL LINES BY INHIBITION OF IL-10 AND TGF-β RECEPTORS” by Dr. Chutamas  Thepmalee, a Ph.D. student from Immunology Program (INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM), Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University was counted as the first time in Thailand to use the activation of effector immune cells to combat CCA cell in the laboratory. The contribution of her thesis is remarkably beneficial as it is going to become an option for CCA treatment which is effective and safe when combined with the regular treatment e.g. surgery, radiology, chemotherapy, and precision medicine those posed a high risk of side effect.

Dr. Pa–thai Yenchitsomanus, Professor and Director, Consultant to the Deputy Dean for Postgraduate Education, Ex-President, and Consultant to the President of Genetics Society of Thailand, Head of Molecular Medicine Division, and Chutamas’s Thesis Advisory Committee explained that the principle of using the effector immune cells of the patient itself becomes a living drug to cure CCA. The way of treatment is safe for the patient because the immune cells were brought from the patient body and develop by using Molecular and Cellular Biology methods. The modified immune cells will be transferred into the patients’ bodies and act as a living drug to fight Cholangiocarcinoma cells.

Dr. Chutamas presented her thesis in the Outstanding Thesis Competition hosted by the Faculty of Graduate Studies, Mahidol University in the first group of Biological Sciences on July 14th, 2020, and received the Distinguished Thesis Award 2020.

Special thanks to M2F https://www.m2fnews.com/lifestyle/work-and-life/62448

Faculty of Postgraduate Studies, Mahidol University

On July 16th, 2020, the Committee of Human Research Protection Unit, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital led by Prof. Thawatchai Akaraviputh, Deputy Dean of Administration welcomed Forum for Ethical Review Committees in Asia and the Western Pacific (FERCAP) to the 4th round review and audit of the HRP Unit according to the protocol of the Strategic Initiative for Developing Capacity in Ethical Review funded by the World Bank / WHO.

On April 29th, 2020, Prof. Dr. Prasit Watanapa, Dean of Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital along with Assoc. Prof. Visit Vamvanij, Director of Siriraj Hospital, Assoc. Prof. Cherdchai Nopmanee-jumruslers, Vice Director of Siriraj Hospital, and Dr. Sichon Luerithiphong, Assistant Director of Siriraj Hospital welcomed the distinguished delegated from Directors of Total Access Communication PCL (DTAC) led by Mr. Sharad Mehrotra, CEO to the press conference on the joint project to enhance the Telemedicine Services at Siriraj Hospital.

“As the spread of the deadly virus continues, general patients and those with chronic disease are recommended to avoid face-to-face interaction because they’ll risk getting infections, especially at Siriraj Hospital. Therefore, online medical consultations are encouraged for patients during this time,” said Visit Vamvanij, Director of Siriraj Hospital.

Siriraj Hospital is the oldest hospital in Thailand, founded by King Chulalongkorn in 1888 with the aim of providing public health services. The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has had a deep impact on various sectors, particularly medical and public health services. Providing the usual public health service during the COVID-19 crisis is a key mission for Siriraj Hospital.

“That is why we developed Siriraj Connect, a telemedicine solution, providing medical services from online consultation to drug delivery by post,” adds Dr. Visit. “There are three simple processes – preparation, online consultation, and payment and drug delivery.”

“The digital divide is a major challenge for telecom-intensive services, like telemedicine, which is even more clearly perceptible during the COVID-19 outbreak. A majority of patents cannot access Siriraj Connect mobile app as elderly patients require support to do so,” said Sharad Mehrotra, CEO at DTAC.