Reflecting on Progress: Highlights from the 2025 SAB Onsite Visit at SiCORE-PM&SP
On July 21–22, 2025, the SiCORE in Cancer Precision Medicine and Systems Pharmacology (PM&SP) proudly hosted its annual Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) Onsite Visit Meeting at Siriraj Medical Research Center (SiMR), Mahidol University. This annual event is a pivotal moment for our team—an opportunity to engage in open, rigorous dialogue with our distinguished SAB members and reflect on our shared mission: advancing precision cancer medicine through systems pharmacology.
This year’s gathering carried a special tone of optimism and maturity. Not only did we present institutional milestones and technical platform demonstrations, but we also saw the next generation of scientists—our trainees and early-career researchers—step confidently into the spotlight to present their own work. This shift marks a turning point in the growth of our research ecosystem.
🧪 Day 1: Collaboration, Discovery, and Unity
The meeting began with welcome remarks from Siriraj and CORE-M team, followed by strategic discussions. Attendees were then treated to a cultural and historical visit to the Siriraj Bimuksthan Museum, reinforcing the connection between tradition and innovation in Thai medical science.
Afternoon activities included guided tours of our Zebrafish and Systems Pharmacology laboratories, where Assist. Prof. Dr. Chalermchai Mitrpant, Assoc.Prof.Dr.Siwanon Jirawatnotai and Asst. Prof. Dr. Somponnat Sampattavanich showcased the power of integrated model systems and translational approaches in drug discovery.
The day culminated in a lively project showcase session, featuring updates from our technical platforms and new discovery.
🧬 Day 2: Science on Stage – A Celebration of Trainee Excellence
The second day was a testament to the strength of our collaborative research network. The morning began with a Special Talk by Prof. Andrew Futreal (MD Anderson Cancer Center), who spoke on improving rare cancer outcomes by eliminating “luck” through better predictive and precision tools. This was followed by a thought-provoking Special Talk from Prof. Ruby Yun-Ju Huang (National Taiwan University), who explored the epithelial–mesenchymal plasticity spectrum in cancer through the lens of multiomics and spatial biology. We also had the privilege of welcoming Prof. Eric C. Schirmer (University of Edinburgh), who delivered a captivating session on how nuclear size and shape alterations influence metastatic spread and therapeutic vulnerabilities.
This was followed by a rich series of research presentations, showcasing exciting studies across rare tumors, epigenetic therapy, immuno-oncology, and tumor evolution. Among the highlights:
Dr. Tongchai Payungporn on super-enhancer remodeling via HDAC inhibition to enhance CDK4/6 inhibitor response in cholangiocarcinoma
Dr. Khin Su Su Htwe and Prof. Ruby Yun-Ju Huang, M.D., Ph.D. on tumor plasticity and iNKT-based immunotherapy in aggressive cholangiocarcinoma
Dr. Makamas Chanda on KRAS-driven cholangiocarcinoma, focusing on metabolic enzyme dysregulation and its implications for therapeutic resistance
Dr. Korawit Opassathian on integrative transcriptomic analysis of glioma, highlighting subtype-specific molecular features in Thai patient cohorts
Hay Mar Oo on immune landscape profiling in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, identifying prognostic subtypes using spatial and single-cell data
Sutthipun Suriya on PARP inhibitor–induced polyploidy, exploring strategies to prevent recurrence in epithelial ovarian cancer through the lens of dormant cancer cell biology
A vibrant poster session walk-through provided further opportunity for feedback and engagement, leading into final roundtable discussions on future directions and long-term goals.
🔗 The Power of Collaboration
We were especially honored to have Dr. Chandhanarat represent our clinician collaborators, whose contributions are pivotal across many of our projects. Our progress would not be possible without the continual engagement of partners like Dr. Krittiya Korphaisarn, Dr. Tauangtham Anekpuritanang, and Dr. Jomjit Chantharasamee—each of whom exemplifies translational impact and team science.
🙌 With Gratitude
This blog post is dedicated to the SiSP (Siriraj Initiative in Systems Pharmacology) team, whose behind-the-scenes efforts brought this event to life, and to all platform leads, research staff, and trainees whose year-round dedication is truly the foundation of our Center’s success. Every challenge overcome and every experiment run brings us one step closer to making precision cancer care accessible to all.
We are also deeply grateful to the CORE-M (Siriraj Center of Research Excellence Management) team for their unyielding support in organizing this annual visit and ensuring its smooth execution.
🌟 Looking Ahead
While we still have a long journey ahead, the path is now illuminated by a collective vision that grows stronger each year. We look forward to translating the valuable feedback from this year’s SAB visit into strategic actions, continuing to evolve as a leading hub for translational and precision cancer research in ASEAN and beyond.
