On November 4th, 2020, Assoc. Prof. Sith Sathornsumetee, Manager of Siriraj Center of Research Excellence Management Unit (SiCORE–M), Assist. Prof. Dr. Woraphat Ratta–apha, Deputy Manager and SiCORE–M team along with Lecturer Dr. Somponnat Sampattavanich, Director of SiCORE–PM&SP held the 2nd teleconference with their SAB members, Prof. Christopher L. Corless M.D., Ph.D. from Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and Prof. Andrew Futreal, Ph.D. from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

This meeting aim for the SiCORE–PM&SP to present the progress of their on–going projects as well as the interactive discussion with SAB members.

In this regard, SiCORE–PM&SP and SiCORE–M team would like to express our sincere appreciation to SAB members for their continuing support, valuable time and advice on scientific content. We are very much looking forward to the 3rd meeting.

On November 3^rd, 2020, Siriraj Center of Research Excellence Management (SiCORE-M) team led by Assoc. Prof.Sith Sathornsumetee, Manager, Lecturer Dr. Primana Punnakitikashem and SiCORE-M team, along with Prof. Rungroj Krittayaphong, Director of SiCORE-Cardiovascular Disease held the 1^st teleconference with their SAB members, namely Prof. Gemma Figtree from The University of Sydney and Associate Professor Jin Joo Park from Seoul National University.

On this occasion, we do hope these first teleconference would be a good starting point of the introduction for getting to know each other including create opportunities for collaboration in the future. All insight and recommendations from the SAB members will certainly guide the research directions and scientific contents to become internationally excellence in research and also to be comprehensively adapt as a guideline for clinical practice.

Assoc. Prof. Sith Sathornsumetee, Manager of Siriraj Center of Research Excellence Management Unit (SiCORE-M), Assoc. Prof. Oranee Sanmaneechai, Deputy Manager and SiCORE-M team along with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pongsakorn Tantilipikorn, Director of SiCORE Allergy scheduled the 2^nd and 3^rd teleconference on September 7^th, 2020 and October 14^th, 2020 respectively.

This program brought an opportunity for the SiCORE-Allergy to present the progress of their on-going projects as well as the interactive discussion with SAB members namely, Prof. Rudolf Valenta from Medical University of Vienna, Prof. Giorgio Walter Canonica from Humanitas University and Prof. Stephen R. Durham from Imperial College London.

In this regard, the valuable advice and recommendations provided throughout the teleconference by this group of prominent researchers will undoubtedly prove highly beneficial to our SiCORE in terms of guidance on research directions and insight on scientific content. On this occasion, our SiCORE-Allergy and SiCORE-M team are certainly most grateful for the continuing support and kind contribution from SAB.

2nd teleconference

3rd teleconference

On September 30^th, 2020, Prof. Dr.Prasit Watanapa, Dean of Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, along with Prof. Dr.Prasert Auewarakul , Deputy Dean for Research and Siriraj Center of Research Excellence Management (SiCORE-M) led by Assoc.Prof.Sith Sathornsumetee, Manager visited the Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI). A very warm welcome was given by Assoc. Prof. Dr.Patamawadee Pochanukul Acting President of TSRI ,Prof. Suthiporn Jitmitraparb, Former President, TSRI’s Administrative Members and staffs.

In the meeting, we had an honor to meet Dr. Nopporn Cheanklin (Executive Director, Health Systems Research Institute: HSRI) and Prof.Dr. Sansanee Chaiyarot (Health and Medical Subcommittee, Program Management Unit – Competitiveness: PMUC), two representatives of Program Management Unit (PMU). This meeting brought us an opportunity to provide brief introduction of our SiCORE-M unit and discussion on the possibilities of any potential future cooperation with authorities under Science Research and Innovation Systems.

On this occasion, Prof. Dr.Prasit Watanapa revealed that Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital have been working on the research transformation process. SiCORE-M Unit was founded in November 2017 as a management initiative to (1) generate a cooperative ecosystem and appropriate research management, (2) increase tangible research outputs, (3) building research network and strengthening research capacity and (4) evolving the Faculty’s research administration and management. Not only responding to University’s or Faculty’s research policies but we also hope that this working approach would allow us to be associated with the new Science Research and Innovation Systems to effectively respond to Social and National policies.

During the meeting, Assoc. Prof. Dr.Patamawadee described about the restructuration of the National Science Research and Innovation Systems. As a result, the Thailand Research Fund (TRF) that had been originally designated to support the research fund for each project, they have become TSRI instead. TSRI are in charge of strategic planning, allocation of research fund and other responsibilities that are work-related or being assigned. One of the significant objectives is to raise Thailand investment in research fund to 2% of GDP within 2027. Recently, our knowledge management team (KMT Think tank) has been established to perform evidence based research on the guideline to TSRI for research funding allocation as well as the prioritization based on research outcomes and impact at national level, more importantly the solution for the problem of our country need to be addressed. In the medical dimension, the KMT Think tank team had created a project study called ” the guidelines for research product prioritization of the advanced therapy medicinal product” in order to set the priority of research theme.

Therefore, the potential for medical development should be aligned with the National Strategy and the “BCG Model” policy, which includes economic development in terms of Bioeconomy, Circular Economy and Green Economy simultaneously. In addition, research budget allocation (in percentage/proportion) should be considered and used for operation plan setting which is for research medical technology development and public health. The purpose is to attain outcomes and impact in accordance with the TSRI’s scheme and Assoc. Prof. Dr.Pongsakorn Tantilipikorn is designated to be one of the CMT Medical committee.

On the final note, SiCORE – M are enthusiastic to cooperate with the units under Science Research and Innovation Systems through the two mechanisms for funding allocation as following;

1.) Fundamental Fund, which will be directly allocated to the university

2.) Strategic Fund that will be distributed to other PMU. The supporting PMU for Medical consist of Health Systems Research Institute (HSRI), Program Management Unit – Competitiveness (PMUC) and Program Management Unit – Brain Power (PMUB).

On 30^th July 2020, Prof. Dr. Prasit Watanapa, Dean of Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Prof. Dr. Prasert Auewarakul, Deputy Dean for Research along with SiCORE-M team (led by Assoc. Prof. Sith Sathornsumethee, Manager) visited Program Management Unit – Brain Power (PMUB) at KX (Knowledge Exchange for Innovation) building. On this occasion, Dr. Kanyawim Kirtikorn, Acting Director of PMUB and her team welcomed the delegates. The purpose of this meeting was to provide a brief introduction of Faculty’s research management systems and SiCORE-M Unit. In addition, Dr. Kanyawim provided us an introduction of PMUB and the related research support policies. From the discussion on the procedure for research support and manpower development, we do realize that this would be of a great benefit to our research direction-setting and let us to become a part of cooperative research pathway under the National strategy.