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     Excellent Center for Dengue and Community Public Health, Walailak University, arranged academic seminar on “Molecular technique for virus identification in mosquito excreta” under collaboration with the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD), France, led by Dr. Olivier Evrard, representative of the institute and Dr. Rodolphe Hamel, molecular biologist of the institute. This event was held between 8th and 9th June 2022 to forge and strengthen academic collaboration and networking between Walailak University and the IRD. 

     This event features the cutting-edge process for mosquito virus screening, particularly Tembusu Virus, which can be transmitted from wild animals to domestic animals. Two types of activities divided into a small group workshop and a seminar, were organized. As for the workshop, only six attendees were selected to enable close supervision and practice, while the seminar session was open to all attendees interested in the use of molecular technique for virus identification in mosquito excrete for viral genomics. The lecture was given by Dr. Rodolphe, specializing in molecular biology and virology. Both of the sessions received much interest mainly from lecturers and health science students an in both master's and doctoral degrees. 

       The French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) is a renowned French institute excelling at three areas of disciplines namely 1) environment (the study of ecosystems, natural resources and the impact of human activities 2) health (the study of infectious, vector-borne and chronic diseases affecting the Thai population and 3) societies (the study of urban dynamics, governance and social aspects of environmental issue. Earlier in June, preceding the seminar was the meeting, chaired by Asst. Prof. Dr. Patnarin Supakorn, Director of the Center for International Affairs (CIA). The IRD presented for knowledge sharing and discussion a research framework developed with Thai universities and the meeting was joined by representatives from several departments including Walailak University’s Centers of Excellence, Institute of Research and Innovation, School of Engineering and Technology, School of Allied Health Sciences and officers in charge of international affairs in each school. 

      Dr. Jiraporn Jaroenpool, Lecturer of School of Allied Health Sciences and representatives from the Excellent Center for Dengue and Community Public Health emphasized sustainable academic network through co-conducted project with the visiting scholar team, “I have been working with the team for 3 years. This time, besides the seminar, the IRD has also cooperated with us on the research under the framework "Investigate the presence of possible emerging viruses transmitted by mosquitoes associated with avian fauna in rural and urban domestic poultry flocks". 

News by Nootchanat Sukkaew 

Division of Corporate Communication