In November 2023, the League of Tropical Universities (LTU) was officially established. As the world’s first multilateral cooperation platform dedicated to universities and research institutions in tropical regions, it is spearheaded by Hainan University (HNU) in collaboration with 7 tropical leading universities and research institutions. Since its inception, the LTU has expanded to include nearly 90 universities and research institutions from over 30 countries and regions.
Leveraging this platform, HNU has intensified efforts in key areas such as Tropical Agriculture, Marine Technology, Environmental Science, and Health Sciences. By fostering a multicultural academic environment, HNU has attracted an increasing number of international students to study in Hainan and integrate into local culture.
One such student is Jakkrit Jieranai, who came from Thailand in 2019 out of passion for Marine Sciences. “There are many learned professors and seasoned experts here and they have helped me a lot with my research,” he said. The three years he spent in obtaining his master’s degree were challenging yet fulfilling. With the support of professors and peers, Jakkrit adapted quickly to his new life in China— and even mastered Chinese.
“What has impressed me most during my time at HNU is its devotion to education. HNU is looking at the bigger picture and expanding into new frontiers,” noted Jakkrit. In 2023 when the LTU was launched, Jakkrit embarked on a new chapter—pursuing a PhD in Biomedical Engineering at HNU. “The world is shaped by human ingenuity rather than mere destiny. I deeply admire the Chinese people’s pursuit of knowledge, and that’s one of the reasons I chose to stay.”
Since the establishment of LTU, HNU has worked closely with member countries to advance research collaborations, with practical goals set in the fields of Tropical Agriculture, Marine Technology, Environmental Sciences, and Health Sciences. These well-defined objectives have given researchers like Jakkrit a clearer direction. With eagerness to seek new challenges, he transitioned from Marine Sciences to Biomedical Engineering—shifting his research focus from oceans to humans.
Currently, Jakkrit is working on virus detection technology with photon-based PCR, a cutting-edge method that leverages the excellent photothermal conversion properties of gold nanoparticles. “When DNA samples are scarce, it will be hard to make proper detection. By taking advantage of DNA denaturation at 95°C, primer binding at 55°C, and optimal polymerase activity around 72°C, we can amplify DNA more efficiently. Our approach can reduce the detection time from one hour to just 15 minutes, thus improving the efficiency dramatically.”
Cancer immunology is an entirely new field for Jakkrit. “I once worked with cell culture and PCR technology, but they were used on fish, not humans. There’s so much I need to learn and explore, which means I have to work harder than others.” Now based at HNU’s Sanya Yazhou Bay Sci-tech City, Jakkrit is setting his sights on expanding his research into tumor immunology, with the aim to better understand the interactions between the immune system and tumors—ultimately develop more effective cancer immunotherapies.
As the LTU promotes academic exchange and collaboration, more young scholars from Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and other member countries have been attracted by HNU. Many newcomers turn to Jakkrit for advice about studying and living in Hainan. His reply is always the same: “Living in China isn’t all that different from living in Thailand. Hainan is my second home. Welcome to Hainan University.”
Source from China Daily
Translated by Han Yunsheng
Proofread by Kuang Xiaowen, Yang Jie
