What Shoklo Malaria Research Unit does

Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU) is a field station of the Faculty of Tropical Medicine at Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand, and is part of the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), a collaborative research unit between Mahidol University, Oxford University, and the University of Washington, primarily funded by Wellcome (UK). Established in 1986 and headquartered in Mae Ramat District, Tak Province, SMRU delivers free healthcare to marginalized migrant, refugee, and ethnic minority populations along the Thailand-Myanmar border who cannot access services through distance, security, financial, linguistic, geographical, cultural, or legal barriers. Its service portfolio spans malaria diagnosis and treatment through a network of over 500 malaria posts, maternal and child health services (with approximately 1,500 antenatal visits per week and roughly 1,000 deliveries per year), tuberculosis and MDR-TB treatment at two sanatoriums (the only such program outside Thai Hospital since 2009), immunization through the Expanded Programme on Immunization, and central laboratory diagnostic services in haematology, microbiology, microscopy, entomology, and malaria in-vitro research.

The organization runs a dual humanitarian-and-research model in which clinical practice challenges drive the research agenda. Core research assets include the SMRU Refugee and Migrant Pregnancy Cohort, established 40 years ago with 94,645 registrations, which generated findings influencing WHO guidelines on malaria treatment during pregnancy; the G6PD point-of-care testing program for neonates; the symphysis-fundal height gestational age prediction tool; MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for Anopheles species identification; and the WHO-supported revision of G6PD genetic variant classification. SMRU has published over 500 peer-reviewed papers.

The revenue model is non-commercial: SMRU receives research and operational funding through MORU/Wellcome and TB program funding from the Global Fund, with supplementary donations accepted via the University of Oxford's donation portal and through the Borderland Health Foundation (BHF), a Thailand-registered non-profit established in December 2017 that employs SMRU-BHF staff. All healthcare services are provided free of charge to patients, and SMRU's value proposition centers on serving a population excluded from formal Thai Hospital care rather than on monetization.

Name

Shoklo Malaria Research Unit

Legal name

Shoklo Malaria Research Unit

Website

https://shoklo-unit.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SMRU is a Mahidol University / MORU field station, primarily funded by Wellcome, delivering free malaria, maternal-child, and TB healthcare to marginalized migrant and refugee populations along the Thailand-Myanmar border while conducting clinical research that has influenced WHO guidelines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Healthcare and Clinical Research Services

NAICS

Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (62151), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Individual and Family Services (6241), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Global Initiatives (HIV/TB/Malaria/NTDs) (HLAJAOAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refugee/Migrant Health & Resettlement Health Units (HLAJAAAJ), Clinical Trial Monitoring Support (On-site/Remote) (HLAGACAG), Decentralized & Hybrid Trial Site Services (Home Health/Nursing) (HLAGACAH)

Keywords

• Clinical malaria research
• Maternal child health
• Tuberculosis treatment
• Humanitarian healthcare
• Infectious disease research

Headquarters

HQ city

Mae Ramat District

HQ country

Thailand

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Research Funding: SMRU is funded primarily by Wellcome (UK) through the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), and additionally by The Global Fund. Funding supports both research activities and humanitarian healthcare delivery.
2. Healthcare Services (Free): SMRU's clinics offer free healthcare to people unable to access other services due to distance, security, financial, linguistic, geographical, cultural and/or legal barriers. Services are provided at no cost to patients.
3. Donations: SMRU accepts donations through the University of Oxford's donation portal. The Borderland Health Foundation (BHF), a non-profit linked to SMRU, also accepts donations and is registered in Thailand since December 2017.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SMRU delivers free primary healthcare to marginalized migrant and refugee populations along the Thailand-Myanmar border, including malaria diagnosis and treatment through 500+ malaria posts, maternal and child health services with weekly ANC malaria screening and approximately 3,000 annual deliveries, tuberculosis and MDR-TB treatment at two sanatoriums, and immunization programs for displaced migrant children. Alongside service delivery, SMRU runs clinical and laboratory-based research that has produced over 500 peer-reviewed publications and shaped WHO guidelines on malaria treatment in pregnancy.

Product overview

Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU) is a field station of the Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, operating as part of the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU) supported by Wellcome. SMRU provides integrated healthcare and research services to marginalized populations along the Thailand-Myanmar border. The core offerings consist of humanitarian healthcare services (malaria diagnosis/treatment via 500+ posts, maternal-child health with ~3,000 annual deliveries, TB/MDR-TB treatment, and general primary care) alongside clinical and laboratory-based research programs. Supporting resources include the Gestational Age Prediction Tool (symphysis-fundal height calculator), published clinical guidelines, and regular operational reports documenting service delivery and research outcomes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Borderland Health Foundation (BHF): A non-profit foundation linked to SMRU, registered in Thailand since December 2017, providing humanitarian health assistance to migrant populations along the Thai-Myanmar border.

Products and services

• Malaria Healthcare Services Comprehensive malaria diagnosis and treatment services delivered through a network of over 500 malaria posts to marginalized communities along the Thailand-Myanmar border.
• Maternal and Child Health Services Prenatal care, weekly ANC malaria screening, safe childbirth by trained midwives, postnatal support, and Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) services for neonates, with approximately 3,000 women delivering annually in SMRU clinics.
• Tuberculosis Treatment Program Patient-centered TB, TB/HIV co-infection, and MDR-TB care for displaced and migrant populations, delivered at two sanatoriums where patients are hosted for the entire duration of their treatment.
• Laboratory Diagnostic Services Central laboratories providing diagnostic services and sample management in haematology, microbiology, microscopy, entomology, and malaria in-vitro research.
• General Medical Services Primary healthcare services including outpatient care for acute febrile illnesses, inpatient care, and a Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) for neonates.
• Gestational Age Prediction Tool Symphysis-fundal height calculator for estimating gestational age in resource-poor settings where ultrasound is unavailable, using six SFH measurements to predict expected date of delivery with accuracy of plus or minus 2 weeks.
• Immunization Programs Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) focusing on displaced migrant children to protect against preventable diseases and strengthen broader public health initiatives in the region.
• Clinical Research Studies Clinical and laboratory-based research addressing challenges in malaria in pregnancy, artemisinin resistance, G6PD deficiency, TB-HIV interactions, and other infectious diseases affecting border populations.
• Clinical Guidelines and Publications Published guidelines including Neonatal Guidelines, Malaria Guidelines (25th edition), Burmese Border Guidelines, and Laboratory Technician Training Manuals available as downloadable PDFs.
• Reports and Data Publications Monthly, quarterly, and annual reports documenting healthcare service delivery, TB program outcomes, and research activities from 2014-2026.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3-fold reduction in stillbirth among refugee and migrant women (1986-2023)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mahidol UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1986SMRU is a field station of the Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. The partnership provides academic affiliation and institutional support for research and healthcare activities.
• Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1979SMRU is part of the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU). MORU is a collaborative research unit between Mahidol University, Oxford University and the University of Washington, supported by Wellcome (UK).
• Borderland Health Foundation (BHF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBHF is a non-profit, non-confessional, and non-political organisation registered in Thailand since December 2017. The foundation is linked to SMRU and accepts donations on behalf of SMRU. BHF is the employing organization for SMRU-BHF staff.
• Mae Tao ClinicminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSMRU collaborated with Mae Tao Clinic for TB screening activities. In 2025, 1,810 presumptive TB cases were screened across all SMRU clinics and Mae Tao Clinic.
• Partner Organizations for TB ReferralsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSMRU refers TB patients to partner organizations for continued care and treatment. In 2025, 117/611 (19%) diagnosed TB cases were referred to partner organizations.
• Local Stakeholders (Thailand-Myanmar Border)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMRU has strengthened collaboration with local stakeholders and adapted case-finding strategies for Thailand-Myanmar border TB control. Community engagement mobilizes communities to participate in TB screenings and facilitate early case detection.

Scale indicators17 records

Direct peers

• Burnet Institute: Burnet Institute combines biomedical research (including malaria) with public health programs in the Asia-Pacific and resource-poor settings. Strongly comparable as a translational research-plus-public-health institution focused on infectious diseases and vulnerable populations.
• Partners in Health: Partners in Health operates a similar dual model of clinical research embedded in healthcare delivery for marginalized populations, including TB/MDR-TB treatment in resource-poor settings. Highly comparable in mission and integrated research-plus-service approach.
• Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU): SMRU's parent organization; MORU is a collaborative tropical medicine research unit between Mahidol, Oxford, and University of Washington, supported by Wellcome. Direct comparator as the umbrella research network that hosts SMRU and shares its funding, governance, and research mission.
• Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine: BNITM is a tropical medicine research institute with field stations focused on malaria, TB, and other infectious diseases, operating in resource-poor settings. Highly comparable to SMRU in combining field-based clinical research with healthcare delivery in tropical contexts.
• Epicentre (MSF Epidemiology Research): Epicentre conducts epidemiology and clinical research embedded in MSF humanitarian operations, with strong programs in TB, malaria, and infectious diseases among vulnerable populations. Comparable as a research arm integrated with humanitarian healthcare delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF): MSF operates humanitarian healthcare delivery for marginalized and conflict-affected populations worldwide, including migrant and refugee health along borders. Comparable on the service-delivery side of SMRU's dual mandate, though MSF is much larger and does not run a longitudinal research cohort.
• International Organization for Migration (IOM): IOM is the leading intergovernmental organization working on migration health, including refugee and migrant healthcare along borders. SMRU serves a similar population (undocumented migrants on the Thailand-Myanmar border) and IOM is a natural partner/peer in this space.
• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): ICRC delivers healthcare and humanitarian assistance to conflict-affected and displaced populations, including along sensitive borders. Comparable on refugee/migrant health access but with a mandate focused on armed conflict rather than research.
• Institut Pasteur: Institut Pasteur operates a global network of tropical medicine research centers, many in malaria-endemic regions, combining laboratory science with epidemiology. Comparable on the malaria research side of SMRU's mission.

Regional players

• African Medical and Research Foundation (Amref Health Africa): Amref delivers community-based primary healthcare and conducts implementation research for marginalized populations in Africa. Comparable mission and model (community health workers, MNCH, infectious diseases) but operates in a different region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shoklo-malaria-research-unit

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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