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CMU Researcher Awarded ‘NRCT Distinguished Research Professor’ for His Work on PM2.5 Impacts on the Heart and Brain

26 June 2026
Corporate Communication and Alumni Relations Center (CCARC)
A researcher from Chiang Mai University has been awarded the National Research Council of Thailand's (NRCT) Distinguished Research Professor Grant 2026 for his pioneering work on the impacts of PM2.5 on the cardiovascular system and the brain, contributing to the prevention and treatment of pollution-related diseases, as well as evidence-based air quality and public health policy.
On June 25, 2026, Professor Dr. Pongruk Sribanditmongkol, Chiang Mai University President, together with other university executives, attended the introduction ceremony for the NRCT Senior Researchers, Distinguished Research Professors and Senior Research Scholars 2026, held during ‘Thailand Research Expo 2026’ at Centara Grand Hotel and Bangkok Convention Centre, CentralWorld. They all came together to congratulate all recipients of this prestigious national honor.
From the Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Distinguished Professor Dr. Nipon Chattipakorn, Director of the Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Centre (CERT), received the NRCT Distinguished Research Professor Grant 2026 for his research project, 'Effects of PM2.5 on the Heart and Brain under Myocardial Ischaemia and Heart Failure: Mechanistic Studies from Ion Channels to Organ Systems'.
The research investigates the effects of PM2.5 on the heart and brain at multiple biological levels, ranging from ion channels, cells and mitochondria to whole organs. The project also developed a specialized exposure chamber that simulates real-world PM2.5 conditions with precise concentration control, enabling the generation of experimental data comparable to actual environmental exposure.
The findings will advance understanding of how air pollution contributes to cardiovascular and neurological diseases, supporting improved prevention and treatment strategies while providing scientific evidence for air quality and environmental health policy. The research also lays the groundwork for further studies and international collaboration.
The NRCT Distinguished Research Professor Grant is awarded to researchers with outstanding research achievements that have gained national and international recognition. Recipients are recognized for generating new knowledge while translating their research into tangible benefits for academia, public policy and society.
This recognition reflects the excellence of Chiang Mai University researchers in addressing critical societal challenges through impactful research and reinforces the university's role as a leading research institution dedicated to advancing knowledge and innovation to improve quality of life.


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