December 21, 2020 from 9:30 a.m. at the Science Park, Khon Kaen University – Department of Biochemistry of Faculty of Medicine; the Phenome Lab, Cholangiocarcinoma Research Center and the Northeast Science Park, Khon Kaen University held a short training course: the Third Short Course in Clinical and Natural Product Metabolomics (CliNaP-M) under the topic, “Employing Foodomics for Biomedical Science”. Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University conveyed an opening address. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Narong Khanteekaew, M.D., Director of the Cholangiocarcinoma Research Center of Khon Kaen University presented the rationale behind the training. Over 40 students, staff of the Faculty of Medicine and staff of medical science fields in the network universities joined.
This Third Short Course in Clinical and Natural Product Metabolomics (CliNaP-M) on “Employing Foodomics for Biomedical Science” has as its aims to disseminate bodies of knowledge in systems biology and the study of metabolism planning among researchers, to open a chance for researchers interested in these fields to exchange their knowledge and experiences so that there will be more collaboration in research and the knowledge from the training can be utilized in research studies, leading in turn, in an increasing number of publications.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Narong Khanteekaew, M.D., Director of the Cholangiocarcinoma Research Center of Khon Kaen University explained that this short course in Clinical and Natural Product Metabolomics (CliNaP-M) on “Employing Foodomics for Biomedical Science” will be useful for disseminating knowledge related to omics, especially metabolomics, for these can be applied in research studies and development of various products and innovations. In this training, metabolomics is used in food research and thus is called “foodomics” or “omics of food”. Trainees will understand the fundamental principles from research design, population selection, data collection, data analyses, analysis of big data, interpretation of results and utilization of the results. The training is conducted both as lectures and practices with experts in the fields from the country and overseas.
The trainees are from many institutions such as Chiangmai University, Kasetsat University, Maejo University, Srinakarinwirot University, King Mongkut University of Technology Northern Bangkok, Mae Fah Luang University, Mahidol University, Rajabhat University Rajanakarin, Chulalongkorn University, Queen Savang Vadhana Memorial Hospital Si Racha and Khon Kaen University.
“The lecturers and researchers of the Cholangiocarcinoma Researcg Institute and Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University have piloted by applying research methods in genomics, proteomics and metabolics in searching biomarkers that are useful to locate risk groups, diagnoses, follow-up treatment with chemotherapy and indicate recurrence of liver fluke disease and cholangiocarcinoma. The results can be efficiently extended in clinical studies and will be greatly beneficial if applied in studies of other diseases such as obesity in children, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, chronic renal disease, which are an important national health problem. It is believed that the participants will be able to apply the knowledge in food research and will develop functional food produces, drinks and drugs, as well as agricultural innovative products that will upgrade small and medium industries of Thailand,” said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Narong.
Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University said that Khon Kaen University is the university that dedicates itself to the social and has been ranked the first in Thailand for Social Devotion by the Times Higher Education for two consecutive years. The short course training this time is expected to promote the research and innovation ecology and develop research and innovation personnel of the country based on the new paradigm of research. Metabolomics and systems biology are the fields that Khon Kaen University has expertise both in terms of the professors who graduated from abroad and the readiness in terms of technology. It is believed that the short course and the data obtained from other omics-based research designs can be efficiently applied in personalized medicine or precision medicine, leading to the national progress in health science in the future,” said the President.
The International Phenome Lab of Khon Kaen University offers analysis of metabolites for research studies and general analytical purposes, especially inspecting contaminants, natural extracts, food, fruit and vegetable; and diagnosis of diseases based on Personalized and Predictive Medicine. The techniques available at the lab include the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy and the Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) which are precision techniques with high specificity and thus yield efficient results that meet the demand of users both from the governmental and private sectors. The lab also offers training related to phenome studies for researchers both at KKU and outside. The examples within the capacity of the lab are blood, urine, feces, saliva, earwax, crude natural extracts, food samples, drinks, drugs.
This Third Short Course in Clinical and Natural Product Metabolomics (CliNaP-M) on “Employing Foodomics for Biomedical Science” are scheduled from December 21 to December 25, 2020.
The training features lectures of basic knowledge from experts from many institutions both in the country and abroad who have experiences in conducting research in systems biology and metabolism planning studies such as Professor Yulan Wang, Director of Phenome Center, Singapore, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wacharin Loilom, the Secretary of the Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute of Khon Kaen University. Besides, trainees have a chance to practice in the laboratory and on the computer.
