For over 40 years, Professor Raymond Andersen, an organic chemist and oceanographer at UBC, has fostered deep academic and cultural connections between Canada and the Indo-Pacific region. His pioneering research in marine natural products in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific has led to life-saving cancer treatments, while his long-term collaborations with institutions in Thailand have positioned UBC and Canada as global hubs for scientific discovery and cross-cultural exchange.
Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea and Breakthroughs in Cancer Drug Discovery
Dr. Andersen joined UBC’s Department of Chemistry and Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences in 1976 after completing postdoctoral work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His research sought to uncover new natural products, sometimes known as specialized metabolites, produced by marine organisms with potential applications in drug discovery. "Fifty per cent of all human drugs in clinical use are modelled on natural products. To find them, you need vast biodiversity," Dr. Andersen noted.
In 1980, Dr. Andersen and his team embarked on an ambitious research project, travelling to the biodiverse waters of Sri Lanka and Papua New Guinea to collect marine invertebrates from these relatively unexplored areas. Collaborating with the University of Colombo and the University of Papua New Guinea, they spent the next 40 years conducting one of the most fruitful research projects in modern marine chemistry.
Through these expeditions, Dr. Andersen and his collaborators uncovered two drug leads with life-saving potential. One led to the development of a drug, now FDA-approved, that cures a rare form of pediatric blood cancer—a disease that was previously considered a death sentence. The other, currently in clinical trials, could change the way we treat prostate cancer. For Dr. Andersen, these achievements underscore the vital role that biodiversity and international collaboration play in scientific innovation.
(photo: UBC Office of Global Engagement)
Building Bridges with Thailand Through Medicinal Plants
In 2012, Dr. Andersen’s research took him in a new direction when Siwaporn Praman, a doctoral student from the Prince of Songkla University (PSU) in Thailand reached out to him. She was studying a medicinal plant used in traditional Thai medicine that can control blood pressure. In Thailand, millions of people depend on local medicinal plants for their well-being, but the scientific validation of these treatments had been elusive.
Siwaporn sought Dr. Andersen’s expertise in solving the biological structure of the compounds responsible for the plant’s efficacy. Her home university at the time lacked the necessary equipment, but UBC’s Department of Chemistry had a mass spectrometer capable of determining the chemical properties of molecules. “I was delighted to host her. I never worked on plants before, so it got me into Thai traditional medicine.”
Supported by Thailand’s Royal Golden Jubilee Scholarship, Siwaporn came to Dr. Andersen’s lab at UBC for a year, where they worked together to solve the structure of the plant’s bioactive compounds and published their findings in prestigious journals. These findings not only advanced the scientific understanding of Thai traditional medicine, but also laid the foundation for future collaborations between UBC and Thai institutions.
Siwaporn’s success at UBC resonated in Thailand, and soon more Thai students applied to work under Dr. Andersen’s supervision. Thanks to UBC’s Visiting International Research Student (VIRS) program, which streamlined the process of hosting international graduate students, Dr. Andersen’s lab became a hub for young Thai scholars. Over the past decade, 15 students from Thailand have come to work with Dr. Andersen at UBC, each carrying back with them the knowledge and respect for UBC and Canada.
For Dr. Andersen, this growing relationship with Thai scholars and students has been mutually beneficial. “What it has done for UBC is it creates a very positive halo in Thailand,” he remarked. “They see UBC as a major institution where they want to send students and with whom they want to interact. Students are the next generation of leaders. If they leave UBC with a positive attitude towards Canada, that helps not just the university but the entire country.”
Dr. Andersen was also invited to Thai universities, where he gave guest lectures, hosted workshops and mentored young scholars, strengthening their programs and research capacity. Many of Dr. Andersen’s students now hold influential positions in Thai universities. Siwaporn, after returning to PSU to finish her PhD, has continued her academic career and become the Assistant Dean responsible for education at Mae Fah Luang University’s School of Medicine.
Dr. Andersen’s work has even reached the Royal Family of Thailand, Professor Dr. Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol, the younger sister of King Rama X. A natural products chemist herself, the Princess was deeply interested in drug development from Thai traditional plants. During a 2014 visit to Canada, Her Royal Highness visited UBC and Dr. Andersen’s lab to learn more about his research, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the Canada-Thailand scientific exchange.
A Story of Cultural Connections, Discovery and Friendship
Dr. Andersen’s experiences have reinforced his belief in the importance of international collaboration in pushing the boundaries of science. “Great science and great discoveries happen everywhere. You cannot just say we know everything here, that’s not true. It’s important to see other cultures and see how they do things. Some of my most rewarding research collaborations have been in the Asia-Pacific area.”
But for Dr. Andersen, the benefits of engaging with the Indo-Pacific region go beyond scientific discovery. He has found that many cultures in the region share values similar to those of Canadians, particularly in their emphasis on education and caring for the well-being of others.
His immersion in Thai culture has allowed him to experience the country in ways few outsiders do. On one visit, Professor Arunporn Itharat of Thammasat University took him to a temple in Northern Thailand that had been transformed into a hospice for cancer patients who lacked access to medical care. The abbot, who led the hospice, not only provided plant-based Thai traditional medicine but also created a community of care for those at the end of their lives. Dr. Andersen was the first Western scholar to visit the hospice and was deeply moved by the blend of compassionate care and traditional medicine. "The abbot’s approach to uplifting the patients’ state of mind really helped them emotionally, changing their attitudes about life and giving them reasons to be alive." Dr. Andersen recalled. “I was so impressed.”
As Dr. Andersen reflects on his career, he marvels at how his work has taken him across the world, allowing him to engage in meaningful research while building strong international relationships. “When I started, I never imagined that one could have this kind of opportunity. It has been really wonderful.” His collaborations in the Indo-Pacific have not only advanced drug discovery but also helped to strengthen Canada’s reputation as a leader in global research and cross-cultural exchange.
For Dr. Andersen, there is no limit to the benefits of engaging with the Indo-Pacific region. His story is one of discovery, friendship and the belief that great science knows no boundaries.