The Apec Centre for Technology Foresight has been working with the National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (Nectec), the National Nanotechnology Centre (Nanotec), and the National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (Biotec) to draft a road map for Converging Technologies to Combat Emerging Infectious Diseases.

The plan's objective is to study and explore the possibility of using converging technologies that can contribute to the prevention and management of infectious diseases that are widespread in the Apec (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) region.

Nares Damrongchai, executive director of the Apec Centre for Technology Foresight, said the road map was being drafted, with the first version expected to be ready by the end of the year. The plan covers both emerging diseases, like Sars and avian influenza, and re-emerging diseases such as tuberculosis and hemorrhagic fever that have affected the economies of Apec member countries.

The costs of treatment and hospitalisation have led to a draining of resources in the Apec area. These diseases also lead to indirect expenditures from time lost at work, the subsequent reduction in purchasing power, as well as unfounded trade sanctions that can hinder economic activity.

"The risk of region-wide global pandemic is very high. For Apec to have sufficient pandemic preparedness besides building drug stockpiles and pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical control options, must also be considered and fully explored," said Nares.

He said the plan would focus on using specific converging technology-application fields such as nano-filters, radio frequency identification (RFID), sensor networking, biomedical imaging, and telemedicine to help tackle the emerging diseases.

Nares described the technology road map as a suitable tool to explore the different ways of developing key future technologies and identifying barriers and gaps in developing and using technologies.

"Drafting of a technology road map is a highly collaborative venture between Apec member countries. Thailand, represented by the centre and as host of the project, has worked with other countries like Japan and Australia to jointly identify and assess such rapidly advancing technologies to combat emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases," said Nares.

The first draft of the road map will be put to a public hearing at a national conference, scheduled to take place in Thailand this December.

Subsequently, the centre will revise the draft and roll out the final version at a symposium in Thailand by the end of 2007.

Asina Pornwasin

The Nation