"Life sciences is not a political issue, but an issue of medical service and research," Dr Thongchai Thavichachart, president and CEO of the Thailand Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences, said yesterday.

Thongchai is certain that whoever becomes the next premier will champion the centre just as Thaksin, who is personally interested in the field, did.

"We are set up to pave the way for foreign companies to conduct their life sciences-related research and business in Thailand. We are making life-science innovations for all," he said.

The centre was set up by the Cabinet in 2004 as a public-private vehicle to bring the benefits of life-science industries to Thais. Although the Cabinet resolution said it could receive up to Bt10 billion in funding from the government, Thongchai said his office has to ask for a budget every year. Since its inception, it has received about Bt500 million.

The centre is now preparing its budget request for the 2007 fiscal year. Thongchai hopes the process will be as smooth as it was in past years.

The centre's strategic plan includes the development of a pharmacogenomics industry, which aims to tailor medicine to an individual's genetic make up, as well as to turn Thailand into a hub for pre-clinical drug tests and stem-cell research.

The projects in its pipeline include creating a national stem-cell bank and national institute for human genome sequencing, and launching a clinical trial for a dengue vaccine discovered and developed by a Thai scientist.