Ms. Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Chairperson, KASIKORNTHAI FOUNDATION (front row, fifth from left), along with Dr. Paisarn Dunkum, Secretary-General of the Thai Food and Drug Administration: Thai FDA (front row, third from left); Dr. Withoon Danwiboon, Director of The Government Pharmaceutical Organization: GPO (front row, sixth from left); Assoc. Prof. Siree Chaiseri, Ph.D., President of Program Management Unit for Competitiveness: PMUC (front row, second from left); Mrs. Suwanna Tiansuwan, Director General of Biodiversity-based Economy Development Office: BEDO (front row, first on left); and Dr. Jittiporn Thammajinda, CEO of Thailand Center of Excellence for Life Sciences: TCELS (front row, first on right) signed three Memorandums of Understanding to establish cooperation in the development of medicines from medicinal plants under the Nan Sandbox project.
In this collaboration, KASIKORNTHAI FOUNDATION is integrating end-to-end knowledge from its partners to create a new value chain of medicine from plants grown under the forest canopy. BEDO will share the accumulated medicinal plant database and ancient local wisdom on the use of medicinal plants in Nan Province. Together with PMUC, we will work on advancing research into commercial use and developing research funding standards. TCELS will help connect us with the industry for knowledge of medicine production. The Thai FDA will help incubation throughout the drug development process, enhancing the chance of successful drug registration domestically and internationally. Lastly, with their expertise, GPO will give guidance support throughout the value chain, from research to distribution in the market.
All in all, in order to help restore the pristine headwater forests of Thailand and of our world, KASIKORNTHAI FOUNDATION and partners share the goal of creating a way of living which gives high-enough income per area (under the forest canopy) for Nan people, allowing them to be able to live harmoniously with the forest. The signing ceremony was held at the Rat Burana Office, KASIKORNBANK. In addition, the ceremony was honored to have Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong (front row, fourth from left), permanent secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, witness this collaboration and deliver an appreciative speech.