Prof Dr Orapan “Ann” Poachanukoon

Director, Center of Excellence in Allergy and Respiratory Diseases, Thammasat University

Industry : Science

For Professor Dr Orapan “Ann” Poachanukoon, medical innovation begins with the obstacles patients encounter in real life. Director of the Center of Excellence in Allergy and Respiratory Diseases at Thammasat University, she has spent more than two decades improving the diagnosis, treatment and long-term management of allergy and respiratory conditions.

Known to many as “Ann Asthma”, she also serves at BNH Hospital and Thammasat University Hospital and is Immediate Past President of Thai Asthma Council. One of her most practical innovations emerged after she recognised that standard asthma equipment was beyond some patients’ means. Working with an engineer, she developed a low-cost spacer from recycled plastic. Now known as the Thai Kit Spacer, it has been adopted by hospitals across Thailand and received a gold medal at the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva.

Her work also embraces digital tools, including the Asthma Care app, designed to help patients monitor and manage symptoms, alongside research into herbal medicines.

Education completes the picture. Through her book Then Allergies Will Lose to Us and social-media channel Asthma Talks by Dr. Ann, she translates complex health information into accessible language. Across research, invention and public communication, Ann’s consistent focus is on making respiratory care more practical, understandable and accessible.