Research Interest: Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Health, Medicine, Clinical Science, Public Health, Preventive Medicine

Summary of Experience: He was Professor, and Senior Consultant and Lecturer, College of Public Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University. He has served as Dean of College of Public Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand from 2007 - 2015. He served as a Director of World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Research and Training in Public Health Development from 2003 – 2015. At the present, a Member of WHOCC for Research and Training in Public Health Development, Chairperson Asia Pacific Council on Contraception and a Consultant for Asia and Pacific Region, Regional Advisory Panel Committee for the Asia-Pacific Region for the Department of Reproductive Health and Research, WHO. He had international publications more than 150 articles.

Research Interest: Public Health, Community Health, Adolescent Health, Aging

Summary of Experience: She's most recent significant research contributions relate to three main projects based in Thailand. Firstly, the Adolescent Health Project examined adolescent health in a slum community in Bangkok, Thailand. Secondly, She was also a principal investigator for the participatory action research project titled, “Healthy City: Community Strengthening in Nan Province”. The project helped to enhance the capacity for local people and local authorities to carry out healthy city planning and management focusing on reduction of use of pesticide in the agricultural areas. In addition, Dr. Somrongthong, had been involved in the multi-country study on Facilitators and barriers to accessing reproductive health care for migrant beer promoters in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam: A mixed methods study in year 2010-2015. Lastly, Dr. Somrongthong was involved as a research on aging projects in Thailand from 2010 to present. The projects aim to promote healthy aging in rural areas using the community participatory approach for sustainability. She has published over 20 peer-reviewed manuscripts on public health

Usaneya Perngparn, Assistant Professor; Ph.D.
POSITION TITLE: Director, Drug Dependence Research Center WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Drug Dependence College of Public Health Sciences Chulalongkorn University

Research Interest: drug/substance use; alcohol drinking, HIV/AIDS; risk populations e.g. sex workers, Transgender, conscripts, prisoners, etc.

Summary of Experience: Asst. Prof. Dr. Usaneya Perngparn, Director of WHO Collaborating Centre completed a Doctoral Degree in Research for Health Development, Chulalongkorn University. She received 2 Master’s Degrees in Demography at Chulalongkorn and in Population Research at University of Exeter in the UK., where she had training at Addiction Centre. Having close collaboration with national/international levels, she has given counselling and training in drug/alcohol, training analysis needs and data management. She had a long-time contribution to the Ministry of Public Health in compiling and processing national drug dependent treatment records. Her research areas are on sociocultural context of risk-taking behaviors among women and transgender sex workers, evaluation of drug dependence treatment system and the multi-sector community development projects to reduce opium cultivation/use in hill-tribal communities, indigenous Buddhist temple treatment of drug dependence and methadone treatment. She conducts and oversees research in alcohol, substance abuse, HIV risk, and prevention. Her works are published in many international journals.

Research Interest: Gender and Sexuality, Reproductive health, Women’s Health, Sex education, Elderly

Summary of Experience: I have work as a researcher in Chulalongkorn University for over 20 years and continue doing research as an instructor in the College of Public Health Sciences. Most of my work focuses on reproductive and sexual health, as well as sexuality and health behaviors. My experiences as Principle investigator in many research projects brings expertise that is relevant to and crosses all generations of people, such as children, teenagers, youth, adults and also elderly. These populations represent both rural and urban areas. Apart from behavioral research, I also collaborate on multidisciplinary research such as on Thalassemia, Breast self examination, health on beauty and media for older people related to sexual health.

• BS in Agricultural Science with High Honors Cook College, Rutgers - The State University of New Jersey New Brunswick, New Jersey USA
• MS in Plant Science, The Graduate School, Rutgers - The State University of New Jersey New Brunswick, New Jersey USA
•  MPH in Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-School of Public Health Piscataway, New Jersey USA
•  PhD in Plant Science, The Graduate School, Rutgers - The State University of New Jersey New Brunswick, New Jersey USA
•  Honorable Degree PhD in Public Health, College of Public Health Sciences (CPHS), Chulalongkorn University Bangkok Thailand

Research Interests:
His research focus is on environmental health and pesticide exposure to farmers and farm families in developing countries, the major platform for this is the NIH FIC Thai International Training and Research in Environmental and Occupational Health grant.

Scholarly Activities
Thai Fogarty ITREOH Center Grant Number: D43 TW007849-01
Fogarty International Center- National Institutes of Health – NIEHS Principal Investigator
US EPA Methane to Markets Partnership Grant Number XA-83444101-1Activities that Advance Methane Recovery and Use as a Clean Energy Source
USEPA – Office of Atmospheric Programs Principal Investigator