Research output per year
Research output per year
Research Professor
Research activity per year
I began my career in malaria research in 1985 as the Section Chief of the malaria research team in the Entomology Department at USAMC-AFRIMS. My first assignment involved conducting direct mosquito feedings on malaria patients in Thailand to evaluate a newly developed ELISA assay for detecting malaria sporozoite proteins in mosquitoes. Remarkably, this malaria sporozoite ELISA continues to be used globally for transmission surveillance in malaria-endemic regions. After 26 years with the US Army overseas laboratory in Thailand, I transitioned to Mahidol University's Faculty of Tropical Medicine in 2011, where I established the Mahidol Vivax Research Unit (MVRU). As the unit’s founder and Director, I lead a multidisciplinary research team of over 30 members, including scientists, fellows, students, and technologists. With more than three decades of experience, my research has concentrated on malaria epidemiology, diagnostics, in vitro culture, and the study of gametocyte biology and mosquito stages of human malaria. The unique capabilities of MVRU have significantly advanced our understanding of P. vivax biology and transmission, including the pre-erythrocytic stage, sporozoite biology, and transmission-blocking vaccine development. My work has spanned all malaria species found in Thailand, including P. vivax, P. falciparum, P. ovale, P. malariae, and P. knowlesi, providing valuable insights into parasite biology within the region.
Many of my research projects focus on developing and testing innovative tools for malaria diagnosis, surveillance, and case management in endemic areas. These tools are essential for improving public health strategies and supporting efforts to eliminate malaria in Thailand and the Southeast Asia region. Since 2010, I have also been actively involved in the Southeast Asia ICEMR (SEA-ICEMR) initiative as Co-Project Director, leading the Vector Biology and Transmission study. I am the director of the current ICEMR (SEA-MaTh), entitled " The changing lanscape of human and zoonotic malaria in Southeast Asia. This program operates across border regions in Thailand, Myanmar, and China, providing critical, up-to-date epidemiological data. These insights have helped public health professionals and policymakers assess the current state of malaria transmission and evaluate the effectiveness of elimination strategies. While our studies have covered a broad range of topics, including malaria parasitology, surveillance tools, vector control, and drug and vaccine development, significant knowledge gaps remain about behavioral risks among diverse populations in malaria-endemic areas. To address these gaps, my team has begun exploring these behavioral risk factors. Formulating targeted strategies to address these risks is crucial to achieving malaria elimination in Thailand and the broader region.
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review