Our university has previously conducted research in Thailand and other countries.ASEANWe have built strong cooperative relationships with various countries through international joint research in the fisheries and biological fields and the implementation of diverse personnel exchange programs. Based on these, in this project, Professor Ikuo Hirono of the Department of Marine Bioresource Science will serve as the Japanese research representative, with Professor Hidehiro Kondo (responsible for bioinformatics and microbiome analysis) and Associate Professor Keiichiro Koshuku (1Under a research system led by the Cell Analysis Department of the Institute of Aquatic Organism Production Engineering, Chulalongkorn University in Thailand (Partner country research representative:Kunlaya SomboonwiwatIn collaboration with the professor,2026Years7From the Moon3We will conduct research throughout the year.

Shrimp farming is a massive industry that supports Thailand's national economy, but the instability of production (success or failure) from pond to pond is a serious problem. This research aims to solve this problem by transforming the traditional local empirical method of "water management" (cultivating and managing water quality and beneficial microbial ecosystems) into a data-driven science.

Specifically, based on environmental samples collected by Thailand from local commercial aquaculture ponds, Japan will perform advanced genome analysis using next-generation sequencers (shotgun metagenomic analysis, using microdroplet technology).1Cell genome analysis,16S rRNAWe will lead the microbiome analysis to identify "core microbial communities" that bring high productivity and to construct ecosystem function models. Furthermore, we will develop innovative technologies to cryopreserve and reactivate microbial communities while maintaining complex ecosystem balances, and proceed with demonstration tests in actual aquaculture ponds and the verification and integration of existing probiotic technologies used locally.

Furthermore, this project places "research personnel development" at its core, encompassing life sciences (wet), information science (dry), and engineering (hard).3We will create a new generation of "fisheries biotechnologists" who integrate skills across different fields. We will accept young researchers from Thailand as long-term doctoral students at our university and develop a "marine industry" program at our university.AIProfessional Development Excellence Graduate Program and International CollaborationOQEANOUSPlusIn addition to conducting intensive training in conjunction with the "Program," Japanese students will be dispatched to Thailand.1~3We will promote two-way exchanges throughout the project (over several months). Upon completion of the project, we aim to establish an official alumni network centered on the graduates, thereby laying the foundation for an autonomous and sustainable international collaborative research base that will connect the two countries for the future.

Through the implementation of this project, our university aims to reduce the use of antibiotics and the environmental impact by cultivating a healthy microbial environment, as well as contribute to Thailand's national strategy.BCG(Bio-Circular-Green) Contribution to the economic model, and Japan-ThailandASEANWe will contribute to the sustainable development of the fisheries industry in the region and the creation of new bio-industries.

<Related links>

Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)"dayASEANScience, Technology and Innovation Collaborative Partnership Project (NEXUS)

https://www.jst.go.jp/pr/info/info1835/index.html

https://www.jst.go.jp/aspire/nexus/pdf/nexus_grantno.pdf