Academic Qualifications

• BSc Honours in Human Biology / Biochemistry Specialization / 2000 / University of Sri Jayewardenepura / Sri Lanka
• M.Phil / Special in Nutritional Biochemistry / 2008 / University of Sri Jayewardenepura / Sri Lanka

Memberships in Professional Organizations

• Founder member & Council member of the College of Biochemist (2013-2016 & 2018 -to date
• Life member of the Sri Lanka Association for The Advancement of Science (membership No -6664/A)
• Life member of the Nutrition Society of Sri Lanka (membership number (2012-021)
• STMIS member No: STMIS NO: NSF/STMIS/10/1794
• Member of the Young Scientist Forum from 2018
• Licentiate member (L.I Chem. C.) of the Institute of chemistry
• Life member of the Physiological Society of Sri Lanka

Awards

• NSF Postgraduate Scholarship 2003/04
  (NSF/Sch/2003/04) for animal study on milk peptides on Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Activity.
• Best Performance in Biological Science -1995
  University prize was awarded on September 1995 by the University of Jaffna, for the “Best Performance in Biological Science” at the first examination in Sciences.
• Best Performance in Chemistry-1995
  Varatharajan Memorial Prize/Scholarship in Chemistry was awarded on September 1995 by the University of Jaffna, for the “Best Performance in Chemistry” at the first examination in Sciences.
• Sabalingam Memorial Prize -1995
  Sabalingam Memorial Prize /Scholarship was awarded on September 1995 by the University of Jaffna, for the “Best Performance in Biological Science” at the first examination in Sciences.

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Research Interests

• Clinical Biochemistry
• Nutritional Biochemistry

ORCID ID and Link

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4006-1361

Google Scholar Link

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=b-YHiXIAAAAJ&hl=en

Research Gate Link

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lohini-Ahiththan

Research Grants Held

• Overseas Travel Grants to present at the FAOBMB conference:2019- awarded by University of Sri Jayewardenepura for the paper on “Body mass index and degeneration: A study in lumbar disc herniated subject”: Rs 225,000
• University Research Grant: ASP/01/RE/MED/2016/43. Grant amount Rs 2,075,600.00
• Association of Vitamin D receptor polymorphism in patients with lumbar disc herniation and degeneration in Sri Lanka.
• Co-grantee of the University Grant ASP/01/RE/MED/2015/47. Isolation of Bacteria associated with degeneration and herniation of the lumbar disc in patients presenting to selected neurosurgical unit in Sri Lanka. Grant amount Rs 2,075,600.00
• University Research Grant: ASP/06/RE/Med/2014/16 for Rs 491,00000
• “Comparison of serum insulin, C peptide & fasting blood glucose among obese and non-obese individuals.”
• University Research Grant: ASP/06/RE/Med/2012/21 for Rs. 478,000.00
• The Association of serum insulin levels with serum lipid profile and anthropometric measurement in non-diabetic subjects –A preliminary study.”
• Co-grantee of the University Grant ASP/6/R/2012/20. The Association of serum leptin levels with anthropometric measurement in non-diabetic subjects
• Co-grantee of the University Grant ASP/6/R/2010/08 titled “Purification & characterization of antihypertensive peptides in fermented milk product of Sri Lanka.”

Publications and Scientific Communications

Full papers in Science Citation Indexed and Scopus Index Journals

• Senarathne , U. Hettiaratchi , L. Athiththan, H. Peiris, C. Sarathchandra, H. Senanayake, P. Weerawansa, and S. Siribaddana. Selected Liver Markers in Predicting the Severity of Organophosphate and Carbamate Poisoning. Journal of Environmental and Public Health DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/7826396
• Roshali Senarathne1 | Usha Hettiaratchi2 | Nirodha Dissanayake1 | Riyaza Hafiz1 | Sumara Zaleem1 | Lohini Athiththan2 Metabolic syndrome in hypertensive and non-hypertensive subjects. Health Sci Rep. 2021;4:e454. doi:10.1002/hsr2.454 https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.454
• ND Withanage, S Perera, H Peiris, LV Athiththan. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, serum calcium and vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms in a selected population with lumbar disc herniation – A case control study. PloS one. 13 (10), e0205841 2018. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0205841
• Anusha K, Hettiaratchi UPK, Athiththan LV, Perera PPR. Inter-relationship of serum leptin levels with selected anthropometric parameters among a non-diabetic population: A cross-sectional study. Eating and Weight Disorders.2017. DOI 10.1007/s40519-017-0413-x
• Kasuni Nisansala Wijesena Walatara, Lohini Vijayendran Athiththan*, Usha Kumari Hettiaratchi, Pradeep Rasika Perera. Effect of demographic status and lifestyle habits on glycaemic levels in apparently healthy subjects: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Diabetes research. Volume 2016, Article ID 5240503, 8 pages. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/524050
• Kasuni NW, Walatara, Lohini V Athiththan*, Usha PK Hettiaratchi, Pradeep R Perera. Importance of anthropometry in assessing insulin resistance as a pre-alarming sign before the onset of metabolic syndrome: a study among apparently healthy subjects. International Journal of Diabetes in Developing Countries. ISSN 0973-3930. DOI 10.1007/s13410-015-0433-x.
• Athiththan LV, Jayaratne SD, Peiris H, Jayesekera S. The effect of milk proteins and curd on serum Angiotensin Converting Enzyme activity and lipid profile in Wistar Journal of the National Science Foundation Sri Lanka. 2009; 37(3:209-214.
• Withanage ND, Perera S, Peiris H, Athiththan LV. Distribution of serum 25 (OH) vitamin D levels among body mass index categories in patients with lower back pain associated with lumbar disc herniation. First Research Conference in Health Sciences. FAHS, SJP 31^st March 2021;114
• Withanage ND, Perera S, Peiris H, Prathapan S & Athiththan LV. Regression Model for Socio-demographic, Behavioural and Occupational Risk Factors in Lumbar Disc Herniation (LDH) and Lumbar Disc Degeneration (LDHD)-In Comparison to Apparently Healthy Subjects. International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Vol. 05 No. 04 October’21. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.31344/ijhhs.v5i4.352
• Nadeeka Dimuthu Kumari Ranadeva, Usha Pushkala Kumari Hettiaratchi and Lohini Vijayendran Athiththan. Trends in Serum Insulin, C-Peptide and IR Levels in Non-Diabetic Young Adults – A Case Control Study International Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders. Volume 5, issue 6,2020. [http://www.opastonline.com/current-issue-ijdmd/]. 
• Withanage, N.D., Pathirage, S., Perera, S., Peiris, H. and Athiththan, L.V. (2019) Identification of Microbes in Patients with Lumbar Disc Herniation. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 7, 138-148. https://doi.org/10.4236/jbm.2019.76009
• Athiththan L V*, Farook FN, Hettiaratchi UPK, Perera PPR. Obesity alone could give rise to altered lipid profile: A study among apparently healthy adults in Sri Lanka., International Journal of Current Research. 2017;9(04):49386-49390. https://doi.org/10.24941/ijcr.2017
• Withanage ND, Athiththan LV*, Perera S, Pathirage S, Peiris H. Isolation of Gemella morbillorum in Herniated Intervertebral Disc Tissue in a Lumbar Discectomy Patient: A Case Report. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 2017;5:99-104. https://doi.org/10.4236/jbm.2017.53010
• Athiththan LV*, Nusha MFF, Hettiaratchi UPK, Perera PPR. Apolipoprotein B is a good tool for screening dyslipidaemia in apparently healthy population. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines. 2016;4:58-64. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jbm.2016.45006. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jbm.2016.45006
• Dabarera MC, Athiththan LV, Perera RP. Antihypertensive peptides from curd. Ayu. 2015; 36(2):214-9. ayujournal.org
• Niroshima Dedunu Withanage¹, Sunil Perera, Hemantha Peiris, Bimalka Seneviratne, Lohini Vijayendran Athiththan. Comparison of T2-weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging findings with histological findings in degenerated lumbar discs in patients with lumbar disc herniation International Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies (IJMS) 2021 8(3): 33 – 42
• Kasuni Walatara, Fathima Nusha, Anusha Kaneshapillai, Lohini Athiththan, Rasika Perera, and Usha Hettiaratchi. Effect of central obesity on serum lipid profile in non-diabetic, non-hypertensive subjects- A preliminary study. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies. 2014; 1(1):123-129.
• Vijayendran L, Wickramasinghe SMDN. (2000) Cholesterol lowering effect of Aporosa lindleyana in male Wistar Journal of Science -Eastern University of Sri Lanka. 2000; 1(1):16-22.
• K.R.R., Hettiaratchi U.P.K., Peiris H., Siribaddana S. and Athiththan L.V., Selected markers of gluconeogenesis and its association with the severity of organophosphate and carbamate poisoning. Proceedings of the 3^rd conference in College of Biochemists of Sri Lanka, July 2021: p33. 
• Nirubalini G., Kumari K.D.K.P. and Athiththan L.V., Effect of roasting on antioxidant activity of methanol extracts of seeds of Vigna mungo cultivated in Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the 3 rd conference in College of Biochemists of Sri Lanka, July 2021: p38.
• Rathnayake RGL, Hettiaratchi UPK, Perera PPR. Association of serum leptin with BMI, body fat percentage and Q223R leptin receptor gene polymorphism in an adult female population Proceedings of the 3^rd conference in College of Biochemists of Sri Lanka, July 2021: p39.
• Nirubalini G., Kumari K.D.K.P. and Athiththan L.V., 2021. Antioxidant Capacity of Water And Methanol Extracts of Vigna Mungo (Black Gram) Cultivated in Sri Lanka. 14^th International Research Conference, General Sir John Kotelawala Defense University from 09^th – 10^th September 2021: p24.
• Weerakoon AY, Sirisena KKSN, Kalupahana MCE, Uthpala PGP, Chamod DAS, Athiththan LV, Hettiarachchi UPK, Goonewardena CSE. (2022). Postpartum weight retention and factors associated with postpartum weight retention in mothers attending child welfare clinics in a selected Medical Officer of Health area, Colombo district. MSF Asia Scientific Days & ICM 2022 held on 3^rd and 4^th August at the FMS, USJ.
• Overseas Travel Grants to present at the FAOBMB conference:2019- awarded by University of Sri Jayewardenepura for the paper on “Body mass index and degeneration: A study in lumbar disc herniated subject”: Rs 225,000

Research Collaborations

• University of Jaffna
• MRI Colombo
• The Central Colombo

Awards

• Support Scheme for Supervision of Research Degrees (SUSRED) award by NSF- 2019 – 16^th Nov 2021
• Research Award 2015, 16, 17, 18, 19 awarded by University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
• NRC Merit Award for Scientific publication 2016.
• Paper titled “Qualitative and quantitative analysis on amino acids & peptides of digested curd in selected curd brands produced in Sri Lanka, “was accepted for MUS Sultanbaba Award.
• University Research Award 18^th march 2022.

Awards for Presentation

• Best oral Presentation – For the oral presentation titled “ (2022).Postpartum weight retention and factors associated with postpartum weight retention and 4th August at the FMS, USJ. Authors: Weerakoon AY, Sirisena KKSN, Kalupahana MCE, Uthpala PGP, Chamod DAS, Athiththan LV, Hettiarachchi UPK, Goonewardena CSE.
• Third Place in Oral Presentations on 09^th August 2019, for the paper titled Dysglycaemia & acute anticholinesterase poisoning and its association. Faculty of Medicine Academic Session 2019, University of Ruhuna. 248.50.75› FMAS03
• “The Merit award for the Oral Presentation”” at the 7^th Young Scientist Forum symposium 2018 for the presentation titled “Socio-Demographic occupational and behavioural risk factors that attribute to lumbar disc herniation and degeneration: A case control study in a selected Sri Lankan population”.
• Second best poster presentation (Nursing & allied health Professionals Category) for the Paper Association of Selected Inflammatory Markers with Lumbar Disc Herniation and Degeneration at the National Health Research Symposium 2017.
• “The Merit award for the Oral Presentation”” at the 6^th Young Scientist Forum symposium 2017 for the presentation titled “Comparison of lipid profiles and metabolic syndrome among selected cohort of chronic and recently diagnosed Type II Diabetes Mellitus patients who attended Family Practice Centre of university of Sri Jayewardenepura and Colombo South Teaching Hospital”.
• Best Poster Presentation for the paper titled, “Predisposing factors that contribute to lumbar disc herniation and degeneration: A Preliminary study” at the International Conference on Multidisciplinary Approaches, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, October 2016.
• Best Oral Presentation in health & Nutrition at 9^th International Conference of Kotalawala Defense University 2016. For the paper, Role of microorganism in lumbar disc herniation.
• “Best Poster Presentation” at WONCA SAR Conference 2016, Colombo Sri Lanka. For the poster: Does fasting serum insulin, insulin resistance and fasting serum c-peptide levels vary with gender?

Other Faculties of University of Sri Jayewardenepura

• Faculty of Allied Health Sciences
• Faculty of Applied Sciences

Other Universities

• University of Colombo
• The Open University of Sri Lanka