Dr. Pakapreud Khumwan | Bioengineering | Best Researcher Award
Researcher and Team Leader at National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Thailand
Dr. Pakapreud Khumwan is a pioneering researcher in the field of bioengineering, specializing in biosensor development and diagnostic technologies. Currently serving as Research Team Leader at the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), under Thailand’s National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), he has driven numerous innovations in microfluidic biosensor platforms and point-of-care diagnostics. Since 2018, he has led the Bioengineering and Sensing Technology Research Team, and between 2021 and 2024, he expanded his expertise as a visiting researcher at JOANNEUM RESEARCH Materials in Austria. With a strong background in surface biofunctionalization, microfluidics, and nucleic acid amplification, Dr. Khumwan’s interdisciplinary research addresses urgent global challenges in healthcare, food safety, and environmental monitoring.
Profile
Education
Dr. Khumwan earned his Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the University of Washington, Seattle, where he concentrated in Molecular and Cell Engineering and completed the Molecular Medicine Certificate Program. Under the mentorship of Prof. Dr. Daniel M. Ratner, his doctoral dissertation explored integrated serologic and phenotypic analysis using silicon photonics—a foundational project that laid the groundwork for his career in biosensing. He previously completed his Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Biological Engineering with Honors at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, focusing on nanoscale biological engineering. This strong academic preparation provided the technical and conceptual framework that underpins his research innovations today.
Experience
Since joining BIOTEC in 2018, Dr. Khumwan has led strategic projects targeting the translation of advanced sensing technologies into scalable, real-world applications. His leadership extends across national and international platforms, managing multidisciplinary teams and collaborative projects with European institutions and the private sector. As a visiting scientist at JOANNEUM RESEARCH Materials, he has been instrumental in developing roll-to-roll manufacturing methods for microfluidic chips, demonstrating an ability to bridge high-tech engineering with scalable diagnostic solutions. In addition to his primary roles, he has actively mentored students and interns, fostering the next generation of researchers in diagnostics and microfluidics.
Research Interest
Dr. Khumwan’s research focuses on three main domains: surface biofunctionalization and assay miniaturization, self-driven microfluidics, and nucleic acid amplification technology (NAAT). His work in surface modification seeks to improve biosensor interfaces for diagnostic specificity and scalability. In microfluidics, he develops autonomous platforms using technologies like UV nanoimprint lithography and laser processing to support rapid, point-of-care testing. Furthermore, he is advancing the integration of isothermal amplification methods, such as LAMP, into automated platforms, including machine learning-enhanced result interpretation—particularly beneficial for disease diagnosis in resource-limited environments. His translational approach allows laboratory discoveries to become field-deployable solutions.
Award
In recognition of his scientific promise and impactful work, Dr. Khumwan was selected as Thailand’s national representative at the Global Young Scientists Summit (GYSS) in 2020, a prestigious gathering that connects emerging researchers with Nobel Laureates and global science leaders. This honor reflected not only his technical expertise but also his leadership and international collaboration capacity.
Publication
Dr. Khumwan has co-authored several impactful publications in high-quality peer-reviewed journals. Notable among them is his 2025 article in Biosensors, titled “Translation of COVID-19 Serology Test on Foil-Based Lateral Flow Chips,” which details roll-to-roll lithographic techniques for pandemic diagnostics and has been cited in emerging literature on scalable point-of-care devices. Another 2025 study in Aquaculture International explores triplex RT-LAMP detection of shrimp yellow head virus, a vital contribution to aquaculture pathogen diagnostics. In Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease (2024), his AI-enhanced colorimetric detection work for COVID-19 exemplifies the fusion of biosensing with smart data analytics. His 2022 paper in Talanta outlines a novel one-step detection platform for future RNA/DNA disease diagnostics, while another 2022 Microchemical Journal article investigates rapid genotypic screening of drug-resistant tuberculosis. His early contributions also include a 2021 study in Fish Diseases on detecting Tilapia lake virus using gold nanoparticle probes, and a 2020 publication in Scientific Reports on ultrasensitive tuberculosis detection using hybrid amplification and lateral flow methods.
Conclusion
Dr. Pakapreud Khumwan exemplifies a modern bioengineer—combining microfabrication, biochemistry, and digital technologies to create high-impact diagnostic tools. His career trajectory illustrates a seamless blend of academic rigor, applied science, and global collaboration. With a strong foundation in molecular engineering and hands-on experience in industrial translational research, he continues to push the boundaries of biosensor innovation. Through leadership at BIOTEC and collaborations across Europe and Asia, he is shaping the future of accessible diagnostics, ensuring his work remains relevant to both global health and local needs.