Anavaj Sakuntabhai

Research Scientist Institut Pasteur

Anavaj Sakuntabhai is a prominent researcher specializing in human genetics of infectious diseases, particularly malaria and dengue.1 2 He currently holds the position of Professor at Institut Pasteur and serves as the Head of the Functional Genetics of Infectious Diseases Unit.1 2

Career and Education

Dr. Sakuntabhai received his MD from Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand, and completed post-doctoral training in Internal Medicine and Dermatology at Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University.1 He also earned an MD from the University of Newcastle in Tyne, UK, and a PhD in Human Molecular Genetics from the University of Oxford in 1999.1 2

Professional Journey

In 2000, Dr. Sakuntabhai joined Institut Pasteur as a Senior Scientist.1 2
In 2007, he became the leader of the Laboratory of Genetics of Human Response to Infections.1 2
In 2010, he established and became the head of the Functional Genetics of Infectious Diseases Unit.1 2

Research Focus

Dr. Sakuntabhai's research primarily focuses on:

Malaria and dengue genetics
Host-parasite interactions in malaria infections
Genetic susceptibility to Zika virus
Emerging infectious diseases

He has been involved in several major research projects, including the MalariaGEN consortium and the European FP7 project on Dengue Framework for Resisting Epidemics in Europe (DENFREE).2

Notable Achievements

Discovered a gene responsible for Darrier disease in 1999.2
Identified a variant on the promoter of DC-SIGN associated with dengue infection outcomes in 2005.2
Contributed to findings on positive selection of G6PD and its effect on Plasmodium vivax density in 2009.2

Dr. Sakuntabhai continues to lead research efforts in infectious diseases, particularly in Southeast Asia and West/Central Africa, focusing on improving rapid response capabilities to outbreaks.3