| 47 Views 15 October 2026 |
On Thursday, 15 October 2026, the Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, through its Research and Innovation Administration Unit, welcomed Prof. Dr. Hikaru Seki from the Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Osaka, Japan, on the occasion of his visit to the Faculty. The welcoming delegation was led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wichit Nosoongnoen, Deputy Dean for Research and Innovation, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Somnuk Bunsupa, Assistant Dean for Research and Innovation, together with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jiraphong Suksiriworapong, Head of the Central Research Facility Unit. The meeting was held at the Office of the Deputy Dean for Research and Innovation, 1st Floor, Ratcharat Building.
The visit was supported by a research project funded by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and the Program Management Unit for Competitiveness (PMUC), under the Biotechnology funding program for fiscal year 2025. The project, entitled “Genome Editing for Plant Biofactories: Precision Production of Squalene/Triterpenoids as Functional Molecules,” included Asst. Prof. Dr. Somnuk Bunsupa as a co-investigator.
The visit aimed to review the progress of the ongoing research project, discuss opportunities for further academic collaboration, and promote student and staff exchange programs between the two institutions. Previously, Asst. Prof. Dr. Somnuk Bunsupa had received funding from Mahidol University’s Academic and Support Staff Mobility Grant for Internationalization for fiscal year 2026, enabling him to visit the Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Osaka, from 28 April to 27 June 2026. This academic exchange laid the groundwork for the development of the research collaboration and the subsequent acquisition of the aforementioned research funding. The partnership reflects the shared commitment of both institutions to strengthening international research networks, advancing research excellence in biotechnology and genome editing, and expanding opportunities for global learning and professional development for students and staff. The initiative also supports the Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University’s mission to produce research and innovation that meets national and international standards, while contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, through international academic exchange and capacity building, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, through research and technological innovation, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, through strengthened international institutional collaboration.
News Article by Asst. Prof. Dr. Somnuk Bunsupa
Photography by Asst. Prof. Dr. Somnuk Bunsupa
