Influenza
Inter-Pandemic Preparedness Plan Episode III
March 2-3, 2006 Phuket Graceland Resort & Spa, Phuket,
Thailand
Role
of Biotechnology Center of Thailand in Vaccine Development
Role
of the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
in Vaccine Development.
The
National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
(BIOTEC) has considered self-sufficiency in vaccine production
as one of the desirable targets for Thai biotechnology development.
BIOTEC advocates the possession of vaccine manufacturing
capacity by Thai organizations, and has supported the megaproject
plan of Ministry of Public Health to build a vaccine factory
and pilot plant for production of influenza vaccine. BIOTEC
supports research and development of various vaccines. The
current focus is the influenza pandemic vaccines and dengue
haemorrhagic fever vaccines. The funding has gone to several
universities. BIOTEC also host a number of in-house laboratories.
The Medical Biotechnology Network centered in Siriraj hospital
is very focusing on dengue research with a team in Chiangmai
devoting to recombinant vaccine research. This is done in
collaboration with the Vaccine Research Institute of Mahidol
University. The use of recombinant DNA technology to develop
BCG-based vaccines candidates and reverse genetic technology
to develop influenza vaccines is also planned.
