Mycology, Epidemiology, and Medical Education Research Group (MERG)
Mission Statement
Mycology Epidemiology and Medical Education Research Group (MERG) was established in 2022 to address critical research questions related to fungal infections, infections in immunocompromised populations, medical education, and health policy in Thailand. The MERG team is striving to prepare the next generation of physician-scientists to conduct research from bench to bedside and generate new knowledge through high-quality research to improve patient care.
MERG Faculty
MERG Director
Dr. Nitipong (Nate) Permpalung, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University (Microbiology)
Research Interests: Fungal Infections; Respiratory Viral Infections; Fungal-Viral Interactions; Human Pythiosis
PubMed Link
Medical Education Research Director
Dr. Saman Nematollahi, MD, MEHP
Assistant Professor of Medicine
The University of Arizona College of Medicine
Research Interests: Fungal Infections; Medical Education; Curriculum Development; Digital Tools
PubMed Link
Ethics and Policy Research Director
Dr. Olivia S. Kates, MD, MA
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Research Interests: Ethics and policy; Transplant infectious diseases
PubMed Link
Clinical Operation Director
Dr. Rongpong Plongla, MD, MSc
Clinical Instructor
Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University (Medicine)
Research Interests: Antimicrobial and Diagnostic Stewardship; Antimicrobial Resistance in Gram-Negative Bacteria; Fungal Infections; Human Pythiosis
PubMed Link
Clinical Trials Director
Dr. Pattama Torvorapanit, MD, MSc
Clinical Instructor
Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University (Medicine)
Research Interests: Emerging Infectious Diseases; COVID-19; Human Pythiosis; Fecal Microbiome
PubMed Link
Basic Science Research Director
Dr. Navaporn Worasilchai, PhD
Instructor
Faculty of Allied Health Science, Chulalongkorn University
Research Interests: Human Pythiosis; Immunity to Fungal Infections; Fungal Diagnostics; Antifungal Susceptibility; Inter-professional Education; Simulation in Health Science Education
PubMed Link
Clinical and Translational Hematology Research Director
Dr. Chatphatai Moonla, MD, MSc
Clinical Instructor
Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University (Medicine)
Research Interests: Hemostasis and Thrombosis; Translational Research in Hematological Diseases
PubMed Link
MERG Students
Nipat Chuleerarux, MD
Current Position: Internal Medicine Resident, University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital
Research Interests: Immunology, Allergy, Infectious Diseases
PubMed Link
Kasama Manothummetha, MD
Current Position: Research Fellow, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Research Interests: Respiratory Viral Infections; Fungal Infections
PubMed Link
Surachai Leksuwankun, MD
Current Position: Internal Medicine Resident, Chulalongkorn University
Research Interests: Student Engagement; Educational Psychology; Curriculum Development; Medical Oncology
PubMed Link
Achitpol Thongkam, MD
Current Position: Internist, Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute
Research Interests: Internal Medicine, Clinical Infectious Diseases
PubMed Link
Jaedvara Thanakitcharu, MD
Current Position: Intern, Panyananthaphikkhu Chonprathan Medical Center, Srinakharinwirot University
Research Interests: TORCH infection in the newborn, tropical infection, HIV-related opportunistic infections
PubMed Link
Tanaporn Meejun
Current Position: Medical Student, Chiang Mai University
Research Interests: Fungal infection, Bacterial infection
PubMed Link
Karan Srisurapanont
Current Position: Medical Student, Chiang Mai University
Research Interests: Hematology and Oncology
PubMed Link
Bhoowit Lerttiendamrong, MD
Current Position: Internist, Somdej Phra Phutthaloetla Hospital
Research Interests: Internal Medicine; Infectious Disease; Oncology
PubMed Link
Dr. Sadeep Medhasi, PhD
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Chulalongkorn University
Research Interests: Human pythiosis; Pharmacogenomics; HLA Genomics; Alzheimer’s disease; Melioidosis
PubMed Link
Selected Publications
Student Works
Human Pythiosis
Student’s Achievement
Jade Chuleerarux has been appointed to work as an Internal Medicine resident at the University of Miami/Jackson Health System
Mark Manothummetha has successfully matched with the University of Miami for his residency in Internal Medicine in March 2024.