RESEARCH:

          Research is considered an integral part of ICEIT and CRI as a whole to support the country's sustainable development, the postgraduate and training program, as well as to solve or prevent problems in environmental toxicology.

          ICEIT acts as a catalyst to foster research cooperation both nationally and internationally. The center also has ties with other scientific institutions in developed countries, e.g. the University of Aarhuus (Denmark), the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (U.S.A.), Lincoln University (New Zealand), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC-WHO), and the Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (Germany), to promote exchange of knowledge and information, technology transfer and research collaboration.

          Research activities include a number of projects conducted in the laboratories of CRI, with some being undertaken in collaboration with other leading universities or research institutes around the world to promote technology transfer.  

Seven main lines of research are being pursued:

1. Development of techniques for detection of environmental pollutants and their toxicities (e.g. PAHs and benzene from traffic and cooking/grilling practices);
2. Effects of chemicals and environmental pollutants on the environment and human health (e.g. effect on certain risk groups, i.e. traffic police, petrol station service attendants, etc.);
3. Modulators of the toxicity of chemicals;
4. Molecular mechanisms of toxicity;
5. Molecular epidemiology and biomarkers of environmentally associated diseases;
6. Chemical carcinogenesis;
7. Development of biotechnology for bioremediation and detoxification of toxic/hazardous wastes.

          The research work carried out by the Center reflects the philosophy of CRI that scientific research should form the basis for education and training.   Moreover, the Institute organizes much of its research as comprehensive collaborative programs that draw on and promote the pooling of resource persons, facilities and funding among both national and international institutes in order to assist in solving problems of mutual interest and concern.

Research Facilities:
The Chulabhorn Research Institute has fully-equipped laboratories for cutting edge research in 9 different areas: Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Chemical Carcinogenesis, Environmental Toxicology, Immunology, Natural Products, Organic Synthesis and Pharmacology.
It also has a state-of-the-art animal facility operated in accordance with Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), an Aquatic Toxicology Laboratory equipped for Whole Effluent Toxicity Testing (WET), and an Inhalation Toxicology Laboratory for rodents, equipped for both whole-body and nose-only exposures.