Human gene bank to open in capital
Thailand's first official bank of human genetics - the largest source for medical and scientific studies and new-drug testing - will be opened within six months.
The so-called bio-bank will be set up at the Rajanukul Institute in Bangkok, which has already collected 10,000 DNA samples, said Dr Thongchai Thavichachart, CEO of the Thailand Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences (TCELS). It will be a prototype of a real genetic bank for others who have also collected DNA samples of volunteers for research purposes, he said. "It's like we're collecting money on our own and what we're doing is encouraging the establishment of a bank where your money can be kept systematically," said Thongchai. Major reasons for establishing a new bank of human genetics are to serve as a source of new-drug testing, a better understanding of diseases, improving prevention, and developing treatments that are best suited to an individual given genetic variations in association with difference responses to treatment. Over the past three years since its establishment, the TCELS has coordinated with Ramathibodi Hospital and Rajanukul Institute in establishing an informal bio-bank in each. The Ramathibodi project has begun the study of six diseases including thalasemia, HIV/Aids, diabetics and some psychiatric diseases in terms of different responses to certain treatments. The first outcome of this project will be the results of a study looking into the chances of an individual becoming allergic to Nevirapine, a common HIV drug - and are expected this year. Meanwhile, the Rajanukul project, has carried out a DNA study on tsunami victims who suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to establish why one individual would suffer more than another - which should lead to a better understanding and treatment, said Thongchai. Rather than centralise those research units involved in genetic studies into one large genetic bank that would require an enormous budget, the TCELS will support each of them to establish their own banks to the same standards, he said. Yesterday, the TCELS convened a meeting of those institutes and research organisations involved in genetic research to gauge their needs in developing their facilities into another bio-bank. The TCELS has also collaborated with Japan with DNA studies, said Thongchai. Japan was currently studying 50 diseases that could also benefit Thailand given that Thais were approximately 98 per cent similar to Japanese genetically.
Arthit Khwankhom The Nation
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