With efforts led by Biology Professor Gary Sweeney from York University, a new laboratory has launched at Srinakharinwirot University (SWU) in Thailand that will focus on integrating clinical research with biomedical laboratory studies to improve human health.
The Thai-Canada Research Laboratory officially opened at SWU on Nov. 27, 2024, with a ribbon-cutting event and memorandum of understanding signing ceremony, which included Sweeney and Rui Wang, dean of the Faculty of Science at York University; Somchai Santiwatanakul, president of SWU; Nantana Choomchuay, dean of the Faculty of Medicine at SWU; and Sanjeev Chowdhury, counsellor and senior trade commissioner of the Embassy of Canada in Thailand.
Left to right: Rui Wang, dean of the Faculty of Science at York University; Somchai Santiwatanakul, president of SWU; Naantana Choomchuay, dean of the Faculty of Medicine at SWU.
"The new lab will focus on taking research from bench to bedside to improve the prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic diseases like diabetes and heart disease, as well as conditions related to aging," says Sweeney. "York U is the inaugural partner with SWU for this venture, but our aim is to expand the partnership to include other universities in both Canada and Thailand."
Research has already begun at the Thai-Canada Research Laboratory with the first project being led by Sweeney. Supported by an Alliance International Catalyst grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, his project is focused on exploring extracellular vesicles, which are small particles that can transport proteins, genetic material and metabolites.
"The content of these vesicles changes between normal and diseases states. Our research will examine which contents cause disease, leading to opportunities to design new therapeutic interventions," says Sweeney.
In addition to establishing the laboratory, the new memorandum of understanding between York University and SWU aims to promote academic exchanges and abroad programs for undergraduate and graduate students at both institutions, joint programming and research initiatives and more.
This story was originally featured in YFile, York University's community newsletter.
