【Symposium】
On 26 June 2026, the NRCT–JSPS–JAAT Symposium, entitled “Preventive Care to be Healthy and Active Ageing: Practices and Policies,” was held as part of Thailand Research EXPO 2026. The symposium was jointly organized by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), and the JSPS Alumni Association of Thailand (JAAT).
The opening ceremony commenced with opening remarks by Dr. Pornpen PATTANASOPHON, the newly appointed President of JAAT. This was followed by welcome remarks from Prof. Dr. Yoshio OTANI, Director of the JSPS Bangkok Office; Dr. Sirinporn Deawtrakool, Deputy Executive Director of NRCT, and Guest remarks from Mr. Hiroyuki KIKUCHI, Third Secretary of the Embassy of Japan in Thailand.
Following the opening ceremony, Prof. Dr. Katsuya IIJIMA, Institute of Gerontology, The University of Tokyo delivered the first keynote lecture, introducing Japan’s community-led initiatives for frailty prevention and emphasizing the importance of empowering older adults to take an active role in maintaining their own health. Next, Prof. Dr. Yoshio OTANI, Director of the JSPS Bangkok Office, shared his daily health practices and lifestyle habits that contribute to healthy ageing. Finally, Asst. Prof. Dr. Duangjai LORTHANAVANICH of Thammasat University presented a comparative perspective on care cultures in Thailand and Japan, highlighting approaches to preventive care for achieving healthy ageing.
The presentations were followed by lively discussions and an active question-and-answer session, during which participants exchanged knowledge and experiences on preventive care and healthy ageing.
The symposium attracted more than 100 participants and provided a valuable opportunity to deepen understanding of the common challenges posed by ageing societies. It also strengthened networks among researchers from Japan and Thailand, while promoting future academic exchange and collaboration between the two countries.
<Keynote Lecture Titles>
■ Community-led Frailty Prevention in Japan: Empowering Older Adults for Healthy and Active Ageing
Prof. Dr. Katsuya IIJIMA,
Vice Director, Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo
Director, Institute of Gerontology,The University of Tokyo
Professor, Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo
■ My Daily Routine for Healthy Ageing
Prof. Dr. Yoshio OTANI,
Director of JSPS Bangkok Office
■ Preventive Care to be Healthy Ageing: Care culture comparison in Thailand and Japan
Asst. Prof. Dr. Duangjai LORTHANAVANICH,
Director, Ageing Business and Care Development (ABCD) Centre, Thammasat Business School, Thammasat University
【Exhibition Booth】
In addition, from 25 to 26 June 2026, JSPS and JAAT operated an exhibition booth at Thailand Research EXPO 2026.
At the JSPS booth, posters were displayed showcasing examples of research achievements from Japan–Thailand collaborative projects supported by the JSPS Bilateral Programs, as well as initiatives under the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI).
Throughout the two-day exhibition, the booth attracted a large number of visitors, providing a valuable opportunity to introduce JSPS’s international programs and Japan–Thailand research collaboration to a wider audience and to deepen participants’ understanding of these initiatives.
＜Research Project Titles＞
■Construction of artificial bacterial consortia in which pyrene-degrading activity was modulated by novel bacterial interactions
Prof. Dr. Hideaki NOJIRI,
Agro-Biotechnology Research Center, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Onruthai PINYAKONG,
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University
■Development of Highly Efficient and Selective Cancer Therapy via Cell-Membrane Disruption by Chitosan-based Molecular Blocks
Prof. Dr. Michiya MATSUSAKI,
Division of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Osaka
Prof. Dr. Suwabun CHIRACHANCHAI,
The Petroleum and Petrochemical College, Chulalongkorn University
■Innovative Green Technologies for the Sustainable Conversion of Glycerol into High-Value Compounds
Prof. Armando T. QUITAIN,
School of Social Innovation, Kumamoto University
Prof. Suttichai ASSABUMRUNGRAT,
Department of Chemical Engineering, Chulalongkorn University
