“Assistant Professor Dr. Kannika Thongkhao, a researcher from the School of Languages and General Education (SOLGEN), During 8–10 December 2025 in Hong Kong, participated in the International Conference on Quality Control, Authentication, and Conservation of Herbal Materials and Products (icHerb 2025), an international academic event organized by the School of Life Sciences and the School of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, in collaboration with the Engineering Research Center of Shanghai Colleges for TCM New Drug Discovery, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The conference brought together researchers and graduate students from Hong Kong, Germany, Korea, and Thailand, providing a global platform for knowledge exchange and research collaboration in the field of herbal medicine. The main focus of icHerb 2025 was quality control, authentication, and conservation of herbal materials and products, which are critical to ensuring the safety, efficacy, and sustainability of medicinal plant resources.

Key activities of the conference included keynote lectures, research presentations, and academic discussions on the latest knowledge and advanced technologies for quality control and authentication of herbal materials. These activities encouraged interdisciplinary interaction among experts in pharmacognosy, molecular biology, analytical chemistry, and related disciplines.

The outcomes of icHerb 2025 are expected to enhance multidisciplinary and international research collaboration, support the modernization of Chinese Medicine, and contribute to raising international standards of quality control and assurance for Chinese medicinal materials and related commercial products.

During the conference, Assistant Professor Dr. Kannika Thongkhao engaged in academic discussions and networking activities, drawing on her expertise in herbal medicine authentication using DNA barcoding techniques. Her participation focused on establishing and strengthening global research collaboration with international experts in the field. These interactions created opportunities for future joint research, academic exchange, and international partnerships, supporting SOLGEN’s strategic goal of enhancing research quality through global collaboration.

This participation highlights SOLGEN’s active role in promoting high-quality research and international collaboration, while providing valuable opportunities for researchers and graduate students to engage with global experts and establish future collaborative initiatives.
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