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Joshua Leitch Bonkowsky

Joshua Leitch Bonkowsky, MD, PhD

Languages spoken: English, German

Clinical Locations

Eccles Primary Children's Outpatient Services Building

801-213-3599
  • Dr. Josh Bonkowsky is a professor of Pediatric Neurology (Pediatrics) and of Neurology. His undergraduate training was at Harvard University; he obtained his MD and PhD degrees at the University of California, San Diego, and did his Pediatrics and Neurology/Pediatric Neurology training at the University of Utah and Boston Children's Hospital.

    Dr. Bonkowsky is engaged in both clinical and basic science studies. His clinical studies are focused on understanding the clinical features of leukodystrophies, and on the genetics of complex human neurobehavioral traits, especially language impairments. Dr. Bonkowsky's clinical research group is investigating the genetics of leukodystrophies, using both local (Utah Population Database) and national databases, to understand the genetic and medical impacts of these disorders.

    Research in the Bonkowsky laboratory investigates human neurogenetic diseases, specifically diseases of basal ganglia function and white matter diseases. His group has developed zebrafish models of human language disorders (the FOXP2 gene); transgenic lines to study basal ganglia development connectivity; and a zebrafish Parkinson's disease model. Besides the basic neurodevelopmental research, his lab is generating disease models for high-throughput drug discovery.

    On sunny afternoons, Dr. Bonkowsky enjoys trail running and learning to skate ski.

    Specialties

    Board Certification

    American Board of Pediatrics (Pediatrics)
  • Dr. Josh Bonkowsky is a professor of Pediatric Neurology (Pediatrics) and of Neurology. His undergraduate training was at Harvard University; he obtained his MD and PhD degrees at the University of California, San Diego, and did his Pediatrics and Neurology/Pediatric Neurology training at the University of Utah and Boston Children's Hospital.

    Dr. Bonkowsky is engaged in both clinical and basic science studies. His clinical studies are focused on understanding the clinical features of leukodystrophies, and on the genetics of complex human neurobehavioral traits, especially language impairments. Dr. Bonkowsky's clinical research group is investigating the genetics of leukodystrophies, using both local (Utah Population Database) and national databases, to understand the genetic and medical impacts of these disorders.

    Research in the Bonkowsky laboratory investigates human neurogenetic diseases, specifically diseases of basal ganglia function and white matter diseases. His group has developed zebrafish models of human language disorders (the FOXP2 gene); transgenic lines to study basal ganglia development connectivity; and a zebrafish Parkinson's disease model. Besides the basic neurodevelopmental research, his lab is generating disease models for high-throughput drug discovery.

    On sunny afternoons, Dr. Bonkowsky enjoys trail running and learning to skate ski.

    Board Certification and Academic Information

    Academic Departments Pediatrics -Primary
    Neurobiology -Adjunct
    Neurology -Adjunct
    Board Certification
    American Board of Pediatrics (Pediatrics)

    Education history

    Other Training Physician Executive Leadership - University of Utah School of Business
    Pediatric Neurology - University of Utah School of Medicine Fellow
    Fellowship Pediatric Neurology - Boston Children's Medical School Fellow
    Pediatrics - University of Utah School of Medicine Resident
    Internship Pediatrics - University of Utah School of Medicine Intern
    Medicine, Biomedical Sciences - University of California - San Diego School of Medicine M.D., Ph.D.
    Fellowship Institute of Molecular Pathology Fellow
    Biochemistry - Harvard College B.A.

    Selected Publications

    Journal Article

    1. Swartwood S, Wilkes J, Bonkowsky JL, Trandafir CC (2021). Celiac Disease in Children: An Association With Drug-Resistant Epilepsy. Pediatr Neurol, 120, 12-17.