Professional Biography of Associate Professor Kanyarat Kraivichian, M.D.
Associate Professor Kanyarat Kraivichian, M.D., is a physician-scientist specializing in medical parasitology and dermatology. She is a faculty member of the Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, where she integrates clinical dermatological expertise with parasitology research to address parasitic and vector-borne diseases that affect both skin and systemic health.

Educational Background
Dr. Kraivichian earned her Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, where she also completed her specialist training. Her dual background in dermatology and parasitology provides a unique perspective in investigating tropical infections with cutaneous manifestations.

Research Contributions
Her work covers cutaneous and systemic parasitic infections, epidemiology, and molecular diagnostics. Major areas of contribution include:

• Gnathostomiasis: She has made important contributions to the clinical and molecular study of human gnathostomiasis. Her work highlights the migratory cutaneous and neurological forms of the disease and has supported the development of both serological and PCR-based diagnostic assays.
• Filariasis: Dr. Kraivichian has contributed to the study of lymphatic filariasis, including diagnostic evaluations using serological markers, and antigen detection assays. She has also examined the dermatological manifestations of filarial infections, such as lymphedema and elephantiasis, and contributed to epidemiological mapping in Thailand.
• Leishmaniasis: Reporting and analyzing cases of cutaneous and disseminated leishmaniasis in Thailand, particularly in immunocompromised patients. She helped establish Leishmania siamensis and Leishmania orientalis as emerging human pathogens in Southeast Asia, and pioneered PCR-based detection of Leishmania DNA in saliva and tissue samples.
• Dermatologic Parasitic Manifestations: She has described unusual and complex cases of tropical parasitic infections with skin involvement, including disseminated dermal leishmaniasis and nodular cutaneous leishmaniasis, improving clinical recognition and therapeutic approaches.
• Cutaneous Cysticercosis: As part of her dermatology–parasitology expertise, Dr. Kraivichian has diagnosed cases of cutaneous cysticercosis caused by Taenia solium larvae.
• Vector Biology and Ectoparasites: She has investigated the genetic diversity of head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) using mitochondrial cytb analysis, linking parasite epidemiology with human population dynamics.
• Molecular Diagnostics: Development and evaluation of advanced PCR/qPCR assays for parasitic pathogens in clinical samples, contributing to faster and more accurate diagnosis.

Academic and Professional Roles
At Chulalongkorn University, Dr. Kraivichian is an Associate Professor in the Department of Parasitology and currently serves as Assistant Dean for Planning and Development at the Faculty of Medicine. She has played a pivotal role in teaching, mentoring, and curriculum development, bridging dermatology and parasitology in medical education.

Publications and Impact
Her work has been published in leading journals such as PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Parasites & Vectors, and the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Her clinical reports on gnathostomiasis, and leishmaniasis have become valuable references for both clinicians and researchers, while her contributions to molecular epidemiology and diagnostics have strengthened Thailand’s role in tropical medicine research.

Legacy
Through her dual expertise in dermatology and parasitology, Associate Professor Kanyarat Kraivichian has advanced the understanding of neglected tropical diseases with skin involvement. Her work on gnathostomiasis, filariasis, and leishmaniasis has provided clinicians with practical diagnostic and therapeutic insights, informed public health programs, and inspired the next generation of tropical medicine researchers.