Chanika Phornphutkul

Chanika Phornphutkul is a Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Pediatrics at Brown University, with active clinical and research roles at Rhode Island/Hasbro Children's Hospital. She serves as Chief of the Division of Human Genetics and Director of the Genetics and Metabolism Clinic.

• Education: MD from Chiang Mai University (1992)
• Training: Pediatric Residency (1995-1996, Brown); Pediatric Endocrinology Fellowship (1996-1999, Brown); Clinical Biochemical Genetics Fellowship (2000-2002, NIH)

Research interests focus on clinical genomics, rare metabolic disorders, and nutrient signaling in bone growth. Her work explores how genetic mutations (e.g., PRKAG2, KCNJ11) and nutrient availability (e.g., leucine, mTOR pathway) affect chondrocyte differentiation and pediatric endocrinology conditions.

Scientific awards include multiple Dean’s Teaching Excellence Awards, Rhode Island Newborn Screening Outstanding Achievement Award, and Visiting Professor recognition from the Thai-American Physician Foundation.

As a principal investigator, she has led studies on chondrogenesis funded by the Charles H. Foundation and NIH. She also contributes to newborn screening task forces and medical education at Brown’s Warren Alpert Medical School.