A scientist specialising in medical AI and a passionate advocate for deep-tech startups, Dr. Theerawit Wilaiprasitporn is the founder of Interfaces (AI health research team at VISTEC) and SensAI (AI-driven anomaly sensing). 

His dedication to advancing health AI – especially during its early stages – highlights his commitment to pioneering research in this crucial field. Through his leadership, he has played a key role in establishing a research team that has contributed to the global advancement of health AI.

We delve into his insights on his role and vision for the future of AI in healthcare.

Academic Leadership and Research at VISTEC

Dr. Theerawit Wilaiprasitporn is an Associate Professor of Computer Engineering at the School of Information Science and Technology (IST), Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science & Technology (VISTEC) Thailand. He supervises Ph.D. and Master’s students, conducts research and works with both academia and industry. VISTEC is a research institution that offers a graduate programme for fully funded scholars, supporting innovation in science and technology.

Dr. Theerawit also leads Interfaces, an AI-driven health research team at VISTEC that focuses on medical AI and deep-tech startups. The team conducts applied AI research and explores its potential clinical applications. Interfaces is part of the BRAIN Lab, which specialises in sensory feedback, machine learning and human-machine interaction for rehabilitation.

Additionally, he leads SensAI, a team developing innovative sleep monitoring and quality assessment technology. This system integrates non-contact sensors, wristbands, frontal brain signal detection and other standard monitoring tools with AI-driven signal processing for comprehensive analysis.

“I am working hard to translate fundamental knowledge from research into internationally accepted health technology originating in Thailand.”

With Thailand’s health technology research landscape still growing, he also aims to represent the country as a globally recognised researcher, contributing valuable findings to advance technology for the benefit of humanity. 

“I was the principal investigator who volunteered to develop remote health monitoring to care for over 30,000 people during the COVID-19 pandemic. This volunteer work was eventually recognised internationally and was nominated for the 2022 IEEE R10 Humanitarian Technology Activities Outstanding Volunteer Award.”

From Limited Support to Global Impact

“The biggest challenge was establishing a pioneer research team conducting AI in health in Thailand.”

Dr. Theerawit recalls that one of the biggest challenges was establishing one of
Thailand’s first research teams focused on AI in health. In the early stages, there were
only a few research grants and limited support, making it difficult to grow the field.
However he and his team remained dedicated, working hard with the resources available
to demonstrate their capabilities at an international level. Over time he has seen Thai
society start to recognise the importance of this research and its role in developing new
health technologies.

There is a growing demand for advanced medical technology and AI-driven healthcare
solutions, particularly in diagnostics, remote monitoring and personalised medicine.
Research in health AI is still developing in Thailand, with efforts being made to integrate
machine learning, big data and telemedicine into the healthcare system. Experts like Dr.
Theerawit and his team are working to bridge this gap by pioneering AI applications that
could enhance patient care and improve healthcare accessibility.

Shaping the Future of AI-Driven Health Technology

Dr. Theerawit hopes that his work in this area will advance Thailand’s healthcare technology while contributing to the broader effort of making high-quality, AI-assisted healthcare accessible to people worldwide.

His focus, AI-driven remote health monitoring for better health, involves the development and application of artificial intelligence (AI) to track and analyse patients’ health remotely. This technology plays a crucial role in improving healthcare accessibility, particularly in areas with limited medical resources. 

“We are establishing a university spinoff company, which should be a great example and practice to bring awareness to Thais in management.”

Beyond his research at Interfaces, Dr. Theerawit is also working on establishing a university spin-off company, aiming to set an example for how research-driven businesses can contribute to Thailand’s economy. He remains committed to inspiring the next generation in research and development, encouraging greater investment in innovation and technology.

With many Thai businesses still focused on traditional industries, this initiative highlights the benefits of turning research into practical applications. In the long run, it seeks to promote innovation and technology investment, supporting sustainable economic growth.