รางวัลมหาวิทยาลัย

Walailak University (WU) has named Associate Professor Dr. Watcharapong Mitsuwan from the Akkhararatchakumari Veterinary College as one of three awardees of the university's highest research honor, the Princess Chulabhorn Gold Research Award, for 2025. He shares the distinction with Associate Professor Dr. Phongpichit Channuie from the School of Science, recognized for his work in theoretical cosmology and gravitational physics, and Associate Professor Dr. Budi Waluyo from the School of Languages and General Education, recognized for his contributions to English language education and technology-enhanced learning.

The award is conferred on WU academic staff who have served the university for at least three years and have demonstrated sustained, outstanding research output — candidates must be first or corresponding authors on at least ten Scopus-indexed articles, five of which are ranked at or above the 90^th percentile.

For Associate Professor Dr. Watcharapong, the award caps a year in which he published 21 papers — 11 of them in Q1 journals — bringing his career total to 82 Scopus-indexed articles and an H-index of 16. "My first reaction was one of genuine surprise and deep gratitude," he said. "It represents recognition of the research journey, dedication, and collaboration that have shaped my work."

A specialist in medical and veterinary microbiology, Associate Professor Dr. Watcharapong traces his interest in the field to the invisible world of microorganisms and their profound impact on life and health — a curiosity that grew into a broader commitment to understanding and addressing health challenges at the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health.

That commitment now spans three connected strands of research. The first studies antibiotic-resistant bacteria isolated from sick people and animals, down to the genomic level. The second screens Thai medicinal plants — chiefly betel leaf (Piper betle) and turmeric rhizome (Curcuma longa) — for antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity, chosen because they are "deeply rooted in Thai traditional medicine and widely available in our region." The third translates those findings into real products: antibacterial sutures and a wound gel built on betel-leaf extract, and a turmeric-based soap designed to fight the bacteria behind bovine mastitis. All three have cleared laboratory testing but, in his words, still need "further preclinical and regulatory studies" or validation "under real farm conditions" before wider use. Eight innovations from this work have been filed for intellectual property protection through WU's Science and Technology Park.

The biggest challenge, he said, is consistency: "Natural compounds are often chemically complex, and their activity can vary depending on the plant source, growing conditions, extraction method, and storage conditions," requiring rigorous evidence on "toxicity, efficacy, dosage, and quality control" before any product is ready for real-world use.

That rigor is grounded in a national concern. "Antibiotic resistance is a very serious and growing problem in Thailand," Associate Professor Dr. Watcharapong said. "Resistant bacteria are no longer something limited to hospitals — they can be found across communities, livestock, food systems, and the environment." His response is to look beyond new antibiotics altogether, toward "alternatives to antibiotics, including natural compounds from Thai medicinal plants, as well as strategies to prevent infection and reduce unnecessary antibiotic use."

He brings the same standards to mentoring the master's and doctoral students in his lab. "The most important thing is curiosity and a willingness to learn," he said, alongside "responsibility and scientific integrity... a negative result is still a valuable scientific result if it is obtained properly."

Looking ahead, Associate Professor Dr. Watcharapong wants to push his research "beyond demonstrating activity in the laboratory and toward developing practical solutions for animal and human health." His message to fellow researchers: "Don't be afraid to cross disciplinary boundaries. In addition, don’t focus only on publishing a paper — think about what your research can ultimately change."