Krisana Kraisintu
 |
Krisana Kraisintu (Thai: กฤษณา ไกรสินธุ์, RTGS: Kritsana Kraisin, pronounced [krìt.sā.nǎː krāj.sǐn]; born February 21, 1952) is a Thai professor, Thai pharmacist, as known as “Gypsy Medicine Maker”. She was pharmaceutical consultant in the local production and increased access to life-saving medicines in Africa, in particular, in the domains of malaria and HIV/AIDS-related drug production.
She was formerly Director of Research and Development Institute, Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO), Ministry of Public Health, Thailand. Between 2002–2007 Kraisintu worked as a Pharmaceutical Consultant for Action Medeor, a German aid organization which is a non-profit organization dealing with local production and distribution of medicines in Africa.
Currently, Kraisintu is the Honorary Dean of Faculty of Oriental Medicines, Rangsit University and a visiting Professor at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ubon Ratchathani University, Thailand. She is also a visiting Professor of Oriental Medicines at Harbin Institute of Technology, China.
In 2009, she was given the Ramon Magsaysay Award.[1]
HIV/AIDS Drugs
Krisana conducted research on Anti-Retroviral drugs without much support and successfully formulated a generic version of AZT (zidovudine), which treats HIV and reduces the risk of mother-to-child transmission, in 1995. The product was introduced to the market at a fraction of the cost of the branded product. Her achievement raised the pharmaceutical and health profile of Thailand as the first developing country to manufacture generic HIV/AIDS drugs.[2]
Educational Background
Kraisintu received her bachelor's degree in Pharmacy from Chiangmai University, Thailand in 1975; M.Sc. in Pharmaceutical Analysis from Strathclyde University, U.K. in 1978; and Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from University of Bath, U.K. in 1981. She was also awarded an Honorary D.Sc. (Doctor of Science) from the University of Bath in 2009.
For the past 28 years, she has worked in the pharmaceutical industry in various roles of quality assurance, manufacturing, research and development and business development for the discovery, development and commercialization of chemical and natural pharmaceutical products.
Honors/Awards Received
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2009 | “Ramon Magsaysay Award,” Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation, Philippines. |
| 2009 | “Honorary Pharmacist,” Hospital Pharmacists’ Society of Thailand. |
| 2009 | “Citizen Hero Award,” Sanya Thammasak Institute for Democracy, Thammasat University, Thailand. |
| 2008 | “An outstanding individual of Thailand in the field of Social Development,” The Prime Minister’s Office, Thailand. |
| 2008 | “Asian of the Year 2008” Reader’s Digest Magazine. |
| 2007 | “Speaker for the Chancellor’s Distinguished Lectureship Series” (Louisiana State University’s premier lecture series), Louisiana State University, U.S.A. |
| 2005 | “Reminders Day AIDS Award” (ReD Awards), Berlin, Germany. |
| 2004 | “Global Scientific Award,” The Letten Foundation, for outstanding scientific contribution in the field of HIV/AIDS, Norway. |
| 2001 | Gold Medal, Eureka 50th World Exhibition of Innovation, Research and New Technology, Brussels, Belgium. |
References
Dr. Krisana Kraisintu, the 2009 Ramon Magsaysay Award Recipient visited MUPY