Report: TTCI’s Presence at the 73rd Annual Meeting of JSTMTCT
Date: May 30, 2025 Location: Sapporo, Japan Presented by: Professor Nattiya Hirankarn, MD, PhD, Director, TTCI
TTCI successfully participated in the 73rd Annual Meeting of The Japan Society of Transfusion Medicine and Cell Therapy (JSTMTCT) in Sapporo, Japan. Professor Nattiya Hirankarn presented on “Thailand’s Cell & Gene Therapy Advances: A National Overview,” showcasing Thailand’s progress and strategic alignment in cell and gene therapy.
Symposium 7, titled “Asian Symposium: Current status of supports for cell and gene therapy in Asian countries,” featured the following speakers:
Dr. Kazuhiko Ikeda (Fukushima Medical University, Japan) – Chair
Dr. Duck Cho (Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University, Korea)
Dr. Tzong-Shi Chiueh (Department of Laboratory Medicine Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan/School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taiwan/Taiwan Society of Blood Transfusion/Taiwan Society of Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)
Dr. Nattiya Hirankarn (Microbiology & Immunology, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand)
Dr. Yozo Nakazawa (Graduate School of Medicine, Shinshu University, Japan)
Dr. Kyeong Hee Kim (Korean Society of Blood Transfusion) – Chair
The presentation highlighted:
Clinical Progress: Chulalongkorn University and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital (KCMH) have established a Cancer Immunotherapy Excellence Center and the first FDA-approved hospital-based CAR T cell processing facility in Thailand. Their non-viral CAR T Cell Clinical Program has treated 10 patients with a 2-year overall survival rate of 80% for B-cell Lymphoma patients.
Regulatory Framework: Thailand has a national regulatory platform involving the Thai FDA, Department of Health Service Support (DHSS), and Medical Council of Thailand (TMC). The Thai FDA requires government-based hospitals or public academic institutions as sponsors for ATMP manufacturing, emphasizing GMP-grade facilities and patient safety.
Collaborative Efforts: The Thailand Hub of Talents in Cancer Immunotherapy (TTCI), launched in April 2023 by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), serves as a national platform to advance CAR T cell innovation through academic collaboration, aiming for affordable and equitable access across Thailand.
International Recognition: Chulalongkorn University Cancer Center is recognized as one of the “TOP 7 in ASIAN CAR T-Cell Therapy Centers” by Medical Tourism Magazine.