Undergraduate students from the Faculty of Medical Technology, together with students from the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, jointly earned prestigious innovation awards at the Thailand Research Expo 2025. The event, held from June 16 to 18, 2025, at Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld, was organized by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) and the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT).
The team secured a total of two awards in the category of Public Health, Healthcare, and Medical Technology. The first was a Silver Medal for Innovation awarded for the project titled “Rapid Detection Kit for Enterococcus and Vancomycin Resistance Using a Four-Line Readout”. This innovation was developed by Mr. Pattharasak Thaveesap, a master’s student in Biomedical Sciences, under the supervision of Asst. Prof. Dr. Apasiri Srisettakarn from the Faculty of Medical Technology.
The second accolade was a Bronze Medal for Innovation awarded for the project titled “Telomere Length Detection Kit for Biological Age Assessment”. The inventors included Ms. Witchuda Busanet and Ms. Sirikan Thiaosungnoen, undergraduate students in Medical Technology, along with Ms. Bandornwan Thurapra, a doctoral student in Biomedical Sciences. The project was supervised by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jureerat Dadoung, Dr. Pathoothong Chatchawan, and Dr. Paweena Tunakhun, all faculty members of the Medical Technology program.
The projects showcased the strong research capabilities and creativity of KKU’s students and faculty, reinforcing their potential to contribute meaningfully to sustainable health innovation. Mr. Pattharasak Thaveesap shared that the competition involved multiple components, including a research poster presentation, a pre-recorded video, and a live pitching session before the judges. He explained that his diagnostic kit was designed for rapid, low-cost detection of Enterococcus infections and vancomycin resistance—conditions that can become life-threatening if left undiagnosed. The device is user-friendly and cost-effective, making it highly applicable in clinical laboratories and healthcare settings.
Ms. Bandornwan Thurapra elaborated on her team’s innovation, a diagnostic kit for measuring telomere length to assess biological age. Telomere length, she explained, is a useful biomarker for understanding overall health and aging. By identifying signs of aging at the cellular level, the innovation can help promote proactive health monitoring and preventive care, encouraging the public to be more mindful of their health and early disease prevention.
She also emphasized that this success was the result of strong interdisciplinary collaboration between the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program and the Faculty of Medical Technology. With support from advisors, classmates, and academic mentors, the research team was able to transform academic knowledge into a tangible innovation. She noted that this recognition not only brings pride to Khon Kaen University, but also serves as inspiration for future generations of researchers to pursue impactful, socially relevant innovation that benefits both the public and the nation.
