Fellowship Site: Thailand

Chiang Mai University, founded in 1964, has 16 teaching faculties and offers undergraduate and graduate educational programs annually to about 15,000 students. The Medical Complex of the university comprises 6 teaching faculties and one health sciences research institute. Doctoral and masters degrees are offered in science and medicine and professional degrees in medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health and veterinary medicine.

Founded in 1978, the Research Institute for Health Sciences (RIHES) serves as the research arm of the health science teaching faculties, and is a center for public health research, giving special attention to health priorities and needs in the North. RIHES has three major roles within the university:

1. to carry out research and research training;
2. to conduct an international postgraduate teaching program in health sciences; and
3. to serve as a resources and coordinating center on public health research. The four principal themes of the Institute's research program are infectious and tropical diseases, reproductive health, environmental health, and human nutrition.

RIHES at Chiang Mai University offers visiting students new opportunities to study in an international research setting where there exists not only a large and expanding portfolio of NIH-funded research studies, but also a well-trained pool of research and staff willing and able to mentor students at several levels.

The NIH-funded clinical research includes the following projects:

1. Randomized Trial to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Antiretrovirial Therapy plus HIV Primary Care versus HIV Primary Care Alone to Reduce the Sexual Transmission of HIV-1 in Serodiscordant Couples
2. A Phase III, Randomized Open-Label Evaluation of the Efficacy of Three-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor Combinations for the Initial Antiretroviral Treatment of HIV-1 Infected Persons in Resource Limited Country
3. A Phase III Randomized Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of a Network-Orientated Peer Education Intervention for the Prevention of HIV Transmission among Injection Drug Users and Their Network Members
4. Reducing Youth Drug-Related HIV/STD Risk in Thailand
5. Community-Based VCT: Thailand
6. A Worldwide, Phase I, Dose-Escalating Study of the Safety, Tolerability and Immunogenicity of a 3-Dose regimen of the MRKAd5 HIV-1 gag Vaccine in Healthy Adults
7. Incidence and Prevalence of Cervical Intraepithelial Nioplasia Grades 2 and 3 or Invasive Cervical Cancer (CIN 2/3+) and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection in 18-35 Year Old Women in Thailand
8. The Epidemiology of Hepatitis C Infection in Thailand
9. HIV/AIDS Research and Training in Northern Thailand
10. Effect of HIV Epidemic on Children in Thailand

Housing Availability:
The Thailand program has student housing as well as guesthouses available within walking distance of the training site. In addition to walking, students generally travel by local two-seater vans and tuk-tuks (3-wheel vehicles that seat two passengers, commonly used in Thailand). The approximate cost for such housing is $375/month.

Immunizations Needed for this Site:
See the U.S. Centers for Disease Control Web site and The Yellow Book: Health Information for International Travel.

The NIH/FICRS program mandates that all Scholars see a physician prior to their assignment abroad.

Safety and Danger Issues:
See the U.S. State Department Web site for information.

Language Requirements Other than English:
None: Faculty and staff are all bilingual (English/Thai). Students would be encouraged to take some Thai lessons, however, to enhance their cultural interaction with Thais outside the academic setting.

What is it like to live in Thailand?
Thailand is a stable, democratic state with a moderate standard of living (GDP per capita about 3,000 USD.) The health system is well developed, and public health is outstanding. Chiang Mai is a beautiful city of less than 1 million, over 700 years old, and of great cultural and historic importance to Thailand. It has a tremendous variety of culture and activities: trekking, rafting, biking, and other outdoor sports are available in the mountains just beyond the city limits. It has a hot tropical climate, with 3 seasons (monsoon, cool, hot). Many consider Chiang Mai one of the most liveable cities in Asia.