On 20 October 2025, the Regional Public Health Laboratory (RPHL) Network officially kicked off the Advanced Laboratory Training on Whole-Genome Sequencing (WGS) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Using Oxford Nanopore Technologies, held from 20–24 October 2025, presided over by Dr. Sarawut Boonsuk, Director-General of the Department of Medical Sciences. The workshop is organized at the Department of Medical Sciences by the RPHL Network, in collaboration with the Department of Medical Sciences, The Medical Sciences Association, and Medical Life Sciences Institute, Thailand, with support from The Global Fund.
The workshop brings together 20 participants from Brunei, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Viet Nam, providing a platform for knowledge exchange and collaborative learning.
Dr. Sarawut Boonsuk delivered the opening remarks, emphasizing the importance of advancing laboratory techniques and adopting innovative technologies to strengthen regional public health surveillance.
Jintana Sriwongsa, Regional Programme Director of the RPHL Network, gave the welcome address, highlighting the Network’s approach to capacity building through peer-to-peer support, cultivating champions, and developing leadership among laboratory professionals. “Today, you will witness Thailand’s leadership in action,” she said. “Training is not only about learning new techniques; it’s about ensuring that our methods remain exemplary, regardless of the disease we tackle.”
The workshop combines expert lectures with hands-on laboratory sessions, equipping participants with practical skills in next-generation sequencing for tuberculosis and other pathogens. This initiative highlights Thailand’s leadership in public health innovation and reinforces the critical role of the RPHL Network in connecting laboratories across the region to share expertise, foster collaboration, and strengthen regional health security.
