UP Manila, Thailand’s Mae Fah Luang University Explore Cross-Border Public Health Collaboration

February 04, 2026

Text by Charmaine A. Lingdas
Photos by Sarah Hazel Moces S. Pulumbarit

Officials from the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila and Thailand’s Mae Fah Luang University (MFU) pose for a group photo following discussions on potential collaboration in public health, research, and academic exchange. Seated (from left) are Warunee Kaewbunruang, Dr. Fernando B. Garcia Jr., Asst. Prof. Romyen Kosaikanont, Dr. Vivien Fe F. Fadrilan-Camacho, and Dr. Marissa M. Alejandria; standing (from left) are Dr. Geraldine B. Dayrit, Dr. Paul Adrian V. Pinlac, Dr. John Mark Velasco, and Piraya Buddhasri.

The University of the Philippines (UP) Manila and Mae Fah Luang University (MFU) of Thailand explored potential academic and research collaboration during a meeting held on Feb. 2, 2026, at the UP Manila President’s Office. The discussion brought together officials from UP Manila’s National Institutes of Health (NIH), College of Public Health (CPH), and Office of International and Local Linkages, alongside an MFU delegation led by Vice President for International Affairs, Asst. Prof. Romyen Kosaikanont.

Asst. Prof. Kosaikanont underscored MFU’s commitment to cross-border education and regional public health engagement, citing the university’s location near the borders of Laos and Myanmar.

Mae Fah Luang University is an autonomous public university in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. It was established in 1998 under Royal Charter to serve the educational needs of northern Thailand and neighboring countries. The university honors the legacy of Her Royal Highness Princess Srinagarindra (known as Mae Fah Luang).

“Our university is actually dedicated to cross-border, trans-border education,” Asst. Prof. Kosaikanont said. “We are seeing wellness and medical study and education as the tools and means to actually build peace and understanding with the neighboring countries.”

She stressed that geographic proximity makes regional collaboration essential. “Diseases do not recognize visas, and they do not recognize borders,” she said. Because of this context, MFU places strong emphasis on primary health care, public health policy, and epidemiology; areas where UP Manila expressed readiness to collaborate.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives and Emerging Programs Dr. John Mark Velasco highlighted NIH’s role as UP Manila’s research arm. While NIH Executive Director Dr. Marissa Alejandria emphasized UP Manila’s work in health systems and policy research, particularly in relation to the country’s Universal Health Care Law. She added that UP Manila is open to collaborative research and training in primary health care, infectious diseases, molecular medicine, and border health.

From the College of Public Health, Dean Fernando B. Garcia Jr. noted that the College’s academic programs and research thrusts align closely with MFU’s priorities, referring to public health policy, epidemiology, and health systems research. He also cited opportunities to pursue joint research proposals and regional funding initiatives through existing public health networks.

UP Manila officials presented opportunities for faculty and student mobility, including internships, visiting scholar programs, and short-term study visits. MFU, in turn, expressed openness to hosting UP Manila students, faculty, and non-academic staff. Other collaborations proposed are joint webinars, short courses, and conferences, including participation in upcoming national and regional health meetings hosted by the University. Opportunities for engagement in MD-MPH, MD-PhD, and public health graduate programs were also discussed, particularly in laboratory-based research and field exposure.

Also present at the meeting were MFU representatives Warunee Kaewbunruang, administrative officer, Piraya Buddhasri, administrative officer from the Global Relations Division, Dr. Vivien Fe Fadrilan-Camacho, director of UP Manila Office of International and Local Linkages; Dr. Paul Adrian Pinlac of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics; and Dr. Geraldine Dayrit, linkages coordinator of the College of Public Health.