Working together to combat malaria.
"...information at the molecular level is vital to gain insights
into the pathogenesis of malaria, and potentially offers
the opportunity to develop better drugs."
~ Subra Suresh
International Scientific Advisory Committee (ISAC) member profileProf Yongyuth Yuthavong
Prof Yongyuth Yuthavong is a scientist with interest in the broad issues of public policies, especially concerning application of science and technology for development and human development in general. He was awarded a Thai Government scholarship to study in the UK, where he obtained a bachelor degree in chemistry with first class honours from University of London (1966), and a doctoral degree in organic chemistry from University of Oxford (1969). He spent a long research and teaching career at Mahidol University, where he was appointed Professor of Biochemistry (1983). He was the first President of the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA, 1992-8) of Thailand, and former Director of National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) (1985-9). He now heads a research group in BIOTEC, working on development of new antimalarials. In 2004, he received the Nikkei Asia Prize for Science, Technology and Innovation from the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Japan, for his work on antimalarial drug targets, and the “Person of the Year” Award from Thailand’s National Identity Board. Prior to that, he received the “Outstanding Scientist of Thailand” Award from the Foundation for Promotion of Science and Technology (1984). In 2006, the Nation newspaper named him one of 35 most influential Thais over the past 35 years. He served as Minister of Science and Technology (2006-8), after which he returned to the research career.
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