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Wirichada Pan ngum: Modeling for maximum impact on health research

Wirichada Pan ngum leads a modelling group using statistical and mathematical approaches to address regional health challenges. Her work on hepatitis C informed Thailand’s treatment and screening policies. Current priorities include integrating AI into modelling and addressing climate change and mental health. Her team also focuses on local capacity building for sustainable impact.

My name is Wirichada Pan-ngum, I'm Associate Professor at Mahidol University as well as Oxford University. My area of work is mathematical modelling. So, I'm leading the modelling group at the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit – a group of about 10 people, and we are working to use modelling; both statistics and mathematical modelling to tackle the health issues in the region. 

A recent example of project that I'm working on is hepatitis C. So, hepatitis C recently has been having a very effective treatment, direct antiviral drug, and just before it’s actually been able to use in the population in Thailand under the universal coverage scheme, we did the modelling work to inform the policy, the significant health benefit that can be quantified because we do mathematical modelling. And then moving on from the treatment model, we looked at the screening and now people are screened early for hepatitis C so that they can get into the treatment platform as soon as possible, and that can really help recovery from the infection.

The big question in my field right now, I think in my opinion would be how to integrate AI into modelling. This is still a very fast-moving field, and our team are trying to come up with some good ideas about how to use AI, as well as climate change and mental health, those are also big issues that we all as researchers should be coping with. 

As an example, hepatitis C is very obvious that as a modeller, we can generate good evidence that can be quantified, and that can help inform the policy change. So that will help improve the lives of the people around the world.

I've been well established in my field, back in my home country Thailand. I have built a very strong relationship with the different stakeholders, including the policy makers and also the scientists. So, the work that we are trying to create as a team will have impact to improve health, and also we are doing a lot of local capacity building that will also make all of this research much more sustainable.

This interview was recorded in September 2025.

Wirichada Pan-ngum

Wirichada leads a modelling group using statistical and mathematical approaches to address regional health challenges. Her work on hepatitis C informed Thailand’s treatment and screening policies. Current priorities include integrating AI into modelling and addressing climate change and mental health. Her team also focuses on local capacity building for sustainable impact.

Translational Medicine

From bench to bedside

Ultimately, medical research must translate into improved treatments for patients. Our researchers collaborate to develop better health care, improved quality of life, and enhanced preventative measures for all patients. Our findings in the laboratory are translated into changes in clinical practice, from bench to bedside.