Dr. Kamchonwongpaisan holds the position of researcher at the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Pathumthani, Thailand. She received her Ph.D. in biochemistry for work in antimalarial drug action and development in 1994 from Mahidol University. She received the 2003 Taguchi Prize for outstanding research achievements by a young scientist in the field of biotechnology. She is also funded in part by the World Health Organization.

Sumalee Kamchonwongpaisan works on potential molecular targets of antimalarial drugs, with focus on derivatives of artemisinin, one of the most effective antimalarial drugs and on antifolate drugs that interfere with synthesis of DNA and other essential components of the malaria parasite. Her study will lead to a better understanding of the modes of action of antimalarials, and hopefully to the development of effective new drugs.