Naravat Poungvarin received his MD degree from Mahidol University, Thailand and PhD degree from Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), USA. After graduation, he became a postdoctoral research associate in the NIH-designated diabetes center at BCM.

Dr.Poungvarin is currently the head of the Clinical Molecular Pathology Laboratory at Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand. His laboratory utilizes real-time PCR and next-generation sequencing to provide predictive molecular testing services for precision oncology. He has developed a simple and highly sensitive technique to detect very low amount of mutation in clinical specimens collected from cancer patients. His team members are now further developing non-invasive liquid biopsy tests targeting actionable mutations in cancers. Recently, Dr.Poungvarin has been closely involved in facilitating standardization and harmonization of molecular oncology testing provided by both governmental and private laboratories in Thailand. 

Dr.Poungvarin has also been studying the transcriptional regulation of metabolic genes in cancer cells by genome and transcriptome analysis. Elucidating this molecular mechanism is important in understanding pathogenesis and combating cancer. In addition, he is working on gene therapy and oncolytic virotherapy for cancer. He is setting up the viral vector production laboratory at Siriraj Hospital to support human gene and cell therapy in Thailand.

• Precision Pathology

• Gene therapy

• Anti-mucin 1 chimeric antigen receptor T cells for adoptive T cell therapy of cholangiocarcinoma. Supimon K, Sangsuwannukul T, Sujjitjoon J, Phanthaphol N, Chieochansin T, Poungvarin N, Wongkham S, Junking M, Yenchitsomanus PT. Sci Rep. 2021 Mar 18;11(1):6276. 

• Fourth-generation chimeric antigen receptor T cells targeting folate receptor alpha antigen expressed on breast cancer cells for adoptive T cell therapy. Luangwattananun P, Junking M, Sujjitjoon J, Wutti-In Y, Poungvarin N, Thuwajit C, Yenchitsomanus PT. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2021 Feb;186(1):25-36. 

• Anti-tumour effect of the fourth-generation chimeric antigen receptor T cells targeting CD133 against cholangiocarcinoma cells.Sangsuwannukul T, Supimon K, Sujjitjoon J, Phanthaphol N, Chieochansin T, Poungvarin N, Wongkham S, Junking M, Yenchitsomanus PT. Int Immunopharmacol. 2020 Dec;89(Pt B):107069. 

• Long J, Galvan DL, Mise K, Kanwar YS, Li L, Poungvarin N, Overbeek PA, Chang BH, Danesh FR. Role for carbohydrate response element-binding protein (ChREBP) in high glucose-mediated repression of long noncoding RNA Tug1. J Biol Chem. 2020;jbc.RA120.013228. 

• Panchalee T, Poungvarin N, Amornrit W, Pooliam J, Taluengjit P, Wataganara T. Clinical performance of DNA-based prenatal screening using single-nucleotide polymorphisms approach in Thai women with singleton pregnancy. Mol Genet Genomic Med. 2020;e1256. 

• Thepmalee C, Panya A, Sujjitjoon J, Sawasdee N, Poungvarin N, Junking M, Yenchitsomanus PT. Suppression of TGF-β and IL-10 receptors on self-differentiated dendritic cells by short-hairpin RNAs enhanced activation of effector T-cells against cholangiocarcinoma cells. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2020;1-10. 

• Sawasdee N, Thepmalee C, Sujjitjoon J, Yongpitakwattana P, Junking M, Poungvarin N, Yenchitsomanus PT, Panya A. Gemcitabine enhances cytotoxic activity of effector T-lymphocytes against chemo-resistant cholangiocarcinoma cells. Int Immunopharmacol. 2020;78:106006. 

• Korphaisarn K, Pongpaibul A, Roothumnong E, Pongsuktavorn K, Thamlikitkul L, Anekpuritanang T, Poungvarin N, Thongnoppakhun W, Pithukpakorn M. High Frequency of KRAS Codon 146 and FBXW7 Mutations in Thai Patients with Stage II-III Colon Cancer. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2019;20(8):2319-2326. 

• Aladhraei M, Al-Salami E, Poungvarin N, Suwannalert P. The roles of p53 and XPO1 on colorectal cancer progression in Yemeni patients. J Gastrointest Oncol. 2019;10(3):437-444. 

• Pongsapich W, Chongkolwatana C, Poungvarin N, Amornpichetkul K, Piyawattayakorn N, Vejvisithsakul P, Maneeprasopchoke P. BRAF mutation in cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules: after reclassification of a variant thyroid carcinoma. Onco Targets Ther. 2019 Feb 21;12:1465-1473. 

• Chat-Uthai N, Vejvisithsakul P, Udommethaporn S, Meesiri P, Danthanawanit C, Wongchai Y, Teerapakpinyo C, Shuangshoti S, Poungvarin N. Development of ultra-short PCR assay to reveal BRAF V600 mutation status in Thai colorectal cancer tissues. PLoS One. 2018 Jun 7;13(6):e0198795.

• Onkoksoong T, Jeayeng S, Poungvarin N, Limsaengurai S, Thamsermsang O, Tripatara P, Akarasereenont P, Panich U. Thai herbal antipyretic 22 formula (APF22) inhibits UVA-mediated melanogenesis through activation of Nrf2-regulated antioxidant defense. Phytother Res. 2018 Aug;32(8):1546-1554.

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