National

National Center
Center for
for Genetic
Genetic Engineering
Engineering
and
and Biotechnology
Biotechnology (BIOTEC)
(BIOTEC) Thailand
Thailand
 BIOTEC
BIOTEC Background
Background and
and Mission
Mission
• Established in 1983 as a Research Centre
• Part of the National Science and Technology
Development Agency (NSTDA)
• Operates outside the normal framework of civil
service and state enterprises
• Main objectives
– induce dynamics of research and development through
the application of biotechnology (research programs,
research funding and research management)
– establish research laboratories with universities and
government agencies
– human resource development, technical service, public
awareness and international cooperation
 NSTDA
NSTDA Organization
Organization
(established
(establishedby
byaaspecial
speciallaw
lawin
in1991)
1991)

NSTDA Board
chaired by Minister of Science and Technology

NSTDA

BIOTEC MTEC NECTECิ

TMC NANOTEC

NSTDA : National Science and Technology Development Agency

BIOTEC : National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
MTEC : National Metal and Materials Technology Center
NECTEC : National Electronics and Computer Technology Center
NANOTEC: National Nanotechnology Center
TMC : Technology Management Center
BIOTEC
BIOTEC Research
Research Units
Units
Chiang Mai Chiang Mai University

Cassava/Starch R&D
Kasetsart University
Rice Gene Discovery Khon Kaen

Kasetsart University Marine Biotech

Chulalongkorn
University
Shrimp Molecular Bangkok
Biology Biochemical Engineering
Mahidol University KMUTT

Medical Central Research Unit

Biotechnology Science Park
Mahidol University

Phuket Peat Swamp & Tropical Rain Forest

Hat Yai (Royal Forestry Department)
Distribution
Distribution of
of R&D
R&D Funding*
Funding*

Rice Biotechnology

Plant Biotechnology

Shrimp Biotechnology

Animal Biotechnology

Bioprocess, Bioindustry,
Novel Products, Food
Innovation

Medical Biotechnology

Environmental
Biotechnology and
Sustainable Development

Biotechnology for Rural

Development

* R&D budget distribution for FY 2005 (millions USD)

 International
International Publications
Publications

180
165
160
145
140
140
127
109
120

100
78 75
80
61
60
45 47
40
25
20 9
7 7
0
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
(Total 1040)
Intramural Extramural
Research
Research and
and Development
Development
Excellence
Excellence and
and Relevance
Relevance
Rice Biotechnology Crop Improvement and Seed Technology

Biodiversity/Biopesticies
Cassava Biotechnology
International Rice Genome Sequencing Project (IRGSP)

Chr. 9
 Marker
Marker Assisted
Assisted Selection
Selection
KDML 105 + Submergence + Bacterial Leaf Blight + brown
planthopper + salt = super jasmine rice

KDML105+QTLsub+Xa21

KDML105

KDML105+QTLsub+Xa21
Waxy
WaxyRice
Rice Low-amylose
Low-amyloseRice
Rice High-amylose
High-amyloseRice
Rice

Breeding
BreedingRice
RiceVariety
Varietyfor
forIndustrial
IndustrialApplication
Application
Cassava
Cassava Molecular
Molecular Biotechnology
Biotechnology
Consortium
Consortium
• To understand the details of starch metabolism in cassava

• To produce novel cassava cultivars with high yielding, tailor-made

starch [specific granule size] ………. high value cassava
Genome -wide analysis
Genome-wide analysis of
of cassava
cassava
transcriptome
transcriptome

Generation of cassava
EST database

Gene identification by
Suppression Subtractive
Hybridization

Gene expression profile

during storage root
formation by cDNA-AFLP
 Crop
Crop Improvement
Improvement
Papaya
Papaya Ringspot
Ringspot Virus
Virus Resistance
Resistance

Susceptible
Susceptible
papaya
papaya

Resistant
Resistant Papaya
Papaya
 Crop
Crop Improvement
Improvement
Tomato
Tomato Yellow
Yellow Leaf-Curl
Leaf-Curl Virus
Virus Resistance
Resistance

ER1-19
ER1-19 Susceptible
SusceptibleLine
Line ER1-16
ER1-16(Resistant)
(Resistant)
(Delayed
(DelayedSymptoms)
Symptoms)
 Biotechnology
Biotechnology for
for Rural
Rural
Development
Development

Rubber
RubberPlantation
Plantation

Etlingera
Etlingeraelatior
elatior
Germplasm
Germplasm Collection
Collection and
and
Breeding
Breeding for
for New
New Varieties
Varieties
Entomopathogenic
Entomopathogenic Fungi
Fungi
 Paecilomyces
Paecilomyces
lilacinus
lilacinus
((Meloidogyne
Meloidogynespp.)
spp.)
 Germplasm
Germplasm Evaluation
Evaluation

Rice: yield, disease (blast, bacterial leaf blight, rice-ragged stunt virus),
nutrition
Cassava: starch content, cyanide content, yield
Corn: 25 characters (size, seed color, yield, disease, sweetness,
tenderness)
Sugarcane: yield, brix, number of stalks, stalk per stool, fiber
Pepper: anthracnose, virus, fruitfly, capsaicin, early maturity, single
harvest, indeterminate
Tomato: color, sugar content, firmness and lycopene
 International
International Collaboration
Collaboration --
Regional
Regional Training
Training Center
Center in
in
Biotechnology
Biotechnology
• HRD Program for Neighboring Countries
and the Pacific Islands
• Training Workshops and Short Courses
• Short and medium term training at
BIOTEC laboratories (3 - 12 months)
• Operating since 2001 targeting
Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and
Vietnam. Pacific Islands were added in
2005 with special funding from the New
Zealand
• 2001 - 2005: 46 scholarships were
awarded. At least six former trainees are
now studying in Germany, Canada and AIT
in Thailand.
 International
International Collaboration
Collaboration --
Regional
Regional Training
Training Center
Center in
in
Biotechnology
Biotechnology
• Plant Genetic Diversity Analysis
and Marker-Assisted Breeding in
collaboration with CGIAR (2005)

• Regional Training Workshop on

GMO Testing in collaboration with
FAO (2003)

• Regional Workshops on Molecular

Breeding in Rice for Mekong
Region in collaboration with
Kasetsart University and the
Rockefeller Foundation (2004 –
2005)
 International
International Collaboration
Collaboration --
Bilateral
Bilateral Collaboration
Collaboration
MOU
MOU--Tropical
TropicalBiology
Biologyand
and
Biotechnology
Biotechnology

Student
Studentexchange
exchangeprogram
program

Thermophilic
Thermophilicenzymes
enzymes

USFDA
USFDABetter
Better
Process
ProcessControl
Control Drug
DrugDiscovery
Discovery
School
SchoolTraining
Training
Course
Course
Cosmetic
Cosmeticresearch
research
National
National Center
Center for
for Genetic
Genetic Engineering
Engineering
and
and Biotechnology
Biotechnology (BIOTEC)
(BIOTEC) Thailand
Thailand
– Responsible for research and
development through the application of
biotechnology

– Achieves this through research funding

and management and the establishment
of research laboratories with universities
and government agencies

– Promotes capacity building

through resource
development, technical
services, public awareness
and international cooperation
National
National Center
Center for
for Genetic
Genetic Engineering
Engineering
and
and Biotechnology
Biotechnology (BIOTEC)
(BIOTEC) Thailand
Thailand