Prof. Shalindra Ranasinghe

Professor in Parasitology

Department

Department of Parasitology

E-mail

ishalindra@yahoo.com

Telephone

Office – +94 11 2758679

Academic Qualifications

  • MBBS / 1998 / Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo / Sri Lanka
  • MPhil / 2004 / Keele University / United Kingdom
  • PhD / 2013 / University of Sri Jayewardenepura / Sri Lanka

Professional Qualifications

  • Certificate of completion of Trainer Training Programme 2020 Conducted by the Post Graduate Institute ofMedicine University of Colombo.
  • Certificate of completion of Examiner Training Programme 2020 Conducted by the Post Graduate Institute ofMedicine University of Colombo.
  • Theoretical and Practical Course on Molecular Biology of Leishmania 2012” ICGEB, Trieste, Italy
  • Short Course: Working with the parasite data base resources 2014”, Cambridge, UK. Wellcome Trust, UK

Memberships in Professional Organizations

  • 2000 – Full registration with Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC)
  • 2002 – Member of the Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists (SLCM)
  • 2010 – Member of the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA)

Medical and Molecular parasitology with special interest in leishmaniasis

Research Interests

  • Medical and Molecular Parasitology with special interest in leishmaniasis

ORCID ID and Link

0000-0002-8113-334X
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8173-334X

Google Scholar Link

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=3M9YMKMAAAAJ&hl=en

 

Research Grants Held

  • Medical Research Council UK-Global Challenges Research Fund (MRC-GCRF), (MR/P024661/1); Ranasinghe, Project Manager and Co-Investigator from Sri Lanka (PI-Professor Paul M Kaye). “Towards a global research network for the molecular pathological stratification of leishmaniasis”. 2017-2019. Value of the grant GBP £45,549.00.
  • Bill & Malinda Gates Foundation; Ranasinghe, Co-investigator from Sri Lanka, collaborative project through PATH). “A multi-country, single blinded, phase-2 study to evaluate a point of need system for rapid detection of leishmaniasis and its implementation in endemic settings”. GAT: 1707-01618413-SUB, 2018-2019. Value of the grant: USD 10400.
  • University of Sri Jayewardenepura Research Grant ASP/01/RE/MED/2016/70; Ranasinghe (PI). “Evaluation of rapid extraction and isothermal amplification techniques for the detection of Leishmania donovani DNA from skin lesions of suspected cases at the point of need in Sri Lanka”. 2016-2019. LKR 3,357,000.00 (in USD 16,785).
  • University of Sri Jayewardenepura Research Grant ASP/01/RE/MED/2015/45: Ranasinghe (PI) and one other; “Prevalence of anti-Leishmania antibodies among patients in a Renal-Unit in a cutaneous leishmaniasis endemic area in Sri Lanka”. 2015-2017; LKR 884, 772.75 (in USD 4424).
  • NSF/IPSAT/2016/15 –Funds to Facilitate the Workshop on Introduction of Recombinase Polymerase Amplification Assay Based Mobile Suitcase Laboratory to Sri Lanka through Diagnosis of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (Ranasinghe, Principal Organizer); LKR 400,000 (in USD 2000).
  • University of Sri Jayewardenepura Research Grant ASP/06/RE/MED/2012/30. Ranasinghe (PI) and two others. Analysis of internal transcribed spaced (ITS) sequence of RNA gene and partial sequence of 6phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH) gene of Leishmania DNA isolated from selected Sri Lankan patients with leishmaniasis. 2012-2015. LKR: 213,150.00 (in USD 1678)
  • National Research Council of Sri Lanka NRC-09-24. Wickremasinghe R (PI) & Ranasinghe PhD Student. Detection of Leishmania donovani in clinical samples using DNA based techniques in Sri Lanka. 2010-2013. LKR 2,965,800.00 (in USD 26,015).
  • University of Sri Jayewardenepura Research Grant ASP/06/RE/2008/03. Ranasinghe (PI). A study to assess the prevalence of sandflies in diagnosed cutaneous leishmaniasis patients’ habitats. 2008-2010.

 

Publications and Scientific Communications

Publications (Google Scholar h-index 10, iIndex 10, citations 377)

  • Dey NS, Senaratne S, Somaratne V, Madarasinghe NP, Seneviratne B, Forrester S, Montes de Oca M, Reis LC, Moulik S, Walrad PB, Chatterjee M, Goto H, Wickremasinghe R, Lagos D, Kaye PM, Ranasinghe S. Early reduction in PD-L1 expression predicts faster treatment response in human cutaneous leishmaniasis. J Clin Invest. 2021 Nov 15;131(22): e142765. doi: 10.1172/JCI142765. PMID: 34609968; PMCID: PMC8592550.
  • Jayasena Kaluarachchi TD, Campbell PM, Wickremasinghe R, Ranasinghe S, Wickremasinghe R, Yasawardene S, De Silva H, Menike C, Jayarathne MCK, Jayathilake S, Dilhari A, McBain AJ, Weerasekera MM. Distinct microbiome profiles and biofilms in Leishmania donovani-driven cutaneous leishmaniasis wounds. Sci Rep. 2021 Nov 30;11(1):23181. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-02388-8. PMID: 34848752; PMCID: PMC8633208.
  • Jayasena Kaluarachchi T, Wickremasinghe R, Weerasekera M, Yasawardene S, McBain AJ, Yapa B, De Silva H, Menike C, Jayathilake S, Munasinghe A, Wickremasinghe R, Ranasinghe S. Diagnosing human cutaneous leishmaniasis using fluorescence in situ hybridization. Pathog Glob Health. 2021 Jul;115(5):307-314. doi: 10.1080/20477724.2021.1896265. Epub 2021 Mar 9. PMID: 33686909; PMCID: PMC8547812.
  • Ghosh P, Sharma A, Bhattarai NR, Abhishek K, Nisansala T, Kumar A, Böhlken-Fascher S, Chowdhury R, Khan MAA, Faisal K, Hossain F, Uddin MR, Rashid MU, Maruf S, Rai K, Sooriyaarachchi M, Abhayarathna WLK, Karki P, Kumar S, Ranasinghe S, Khanal B, Routray S, Das P, Mondal D, Abd El Wahed A. A Multi-Country, Single-Blinded, Phase 2 Study to Evaluate a Point-of-Need System for Rapid Detection of Leishmaniasis and Its Implementation in Endemic Settings. Microorganisms. 2021 Mar 12;9(3):588. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms9030588. PMID: 33809332; PMCID: PMC7999011.
  • Weerasekera CJ, Hapuachchige C, Wijeratne YMTY, Goonesinghe R, Wickremasinghe DR, Yahathugoda TC, Ranasinghe S. Omental dirofilariasis caused by Dirofilaria repens; visceralisation in a patient with diabetes mellitus. Journal of the Ceylon College of Physicians 2021 52(2), pp.105–108. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/jccp.v52i2.7936
  • Jayasena Kaluarachchi TD, Weerasekera MM, McBain AJ, Ranasinghe S, Wickremasinghe R, Yasawardene S, Jayanetti N, Wickremasinghe R. Diagnosing Cutaneous leishmaniasis using Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization: the Sri Lankan Perspective. Pathog Glob Health. 2019 Jun;113(4):180-190. doi: 10.1080/20477724.2019.1650228. Epub 2019 Aug 20. PMID: 31429388; PMCID: PMC6758699.
  • Gunaratna G, Manamperi A, Böhlken-Fascher S, Wickremasinge R, Gunawardena K, Yapa B, Pathirana N, Pathirana H, de Silva N, Sooriyaarachchi M, Deerasinghe T, Mondal D, Ranasinghe S*, Abd El Wahed A. Evaluation of rapid extraction and isothermal amplification techniques for the detection of Leishmania donovani DNA from skin lesions of suspected cases at the point of need in Sri Lanka. Parasit Vectors. 2018 Dec 22;11(1):665. doi: 10.1186/s13071-018-3238-1. PMID: 30577826 * I am one of the Senior –Co authors contributing equally
  • De Silva G, Somaratne V, Senaratne S, Vipuladasa M, Wickremasinghe R, Wickremasinghe R, Ranasinghe S. Efficacy of a new rapid diagnostic test kit to diagnose Sri Lankan cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania donovani. PLoS One. 2017 Nov 14;12(11):e0187024. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0187024. PMID: 29135995; PMCID: PMC5685575.
  • McCall LI, Zhang WW, Dejgaard K, Atayde VD, Mazur A, Ranasinghe S, Liu J, Olivier M, Nilsson T, Matlashewski G. Adaptation of Leishmania donovani to cutaneous and visceral environments: in vivo selection and proteomic analysis. J Proteome Res. 2015 Feb 6;14(2):1033-59. doi: 10.1021/pr5010604. Epub 2015 Jan 13. PMID: 25536015.
  • Ranasinghe S, Wickremasinghe R, Hulangamuwa S, Sirimanna G, Opathella N, Maingon RD, Chandrasekharan V. Polymerase chain reaction detection of Leishmania DNA in skin biopsy samples in Sri Lanka where the causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis is Leishmania donovani. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2015 Dec;110(8):1017-23. doi: 10.1590/0074-02760150286. Epub 2015 Dec 11. PMID: 26676321; PMCID: PMC4708022.
  • Zhang WW, Ramasamy G, McCall LI, Haydock A, Ranasinghe S, Abeygunasekara P, Sirimanna G, Wickremasinghe R, Myler P, Matlashewski G. Genetic analysis of Leishmania donovani tropism using a naturally attenuated cutaneous strain. PLoS Pathog. 2014 Jul 3;10(7):e1004244. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004244. PMID: 24992200; PMCID: PMC4081786.
  • Ranasinghe S, Wickremasinghe R, Munasinghe A, Hulangamuwa S, Sivanantharajah S, Seneviratne K, Bandara S, Athauda I, Navaratne C, Silva O, Wackwella H, Matlashewski G, Wickremasinghe R. Cross-sectional study to assess risk factors for leishmaniasis in an endemic region in Sri Lanka. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2013 Oct;89(4):742-9. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.12-0640. Epub 2013 Aug 5. PMID: 23918217; PMCID: PMC3795106.
  • McCall LI, Zhang WW, Ranasinghe S, Matlashewski G. Leishmanization revisited: immunization with a naturally attenuated cutaneous Leishmania donovani isolate from Sri Lanka protects against visceral leishmaniasis. Vaccine. 2013 Feb 27;31(10):1420-5. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2012.11.065. Epub 2012 Dec 7. PMID: 23219435.
  • Ranasinghe S, Zhang WW, Wickremasinghe R, Abeygunasekera P, Chandrasekharan V, Athauda S, Mendis S, Hulangamuwa S, Matlashewski G, Pratlong F. Leishmania donovani zymodeme MON-37 isolated from an autochthonous visceral leishmaniasis patient in Sri Lanka. Pathog Glob Health. 2012 Nov;106(7):421-4. doi: 10.1179/2047773212Y.0000000054. PMID: 23265615; PMCID: PMC4001626.
  • Ranasinghe S, Maingon RD, Bray DP, Ward RD, Udagedara C, Dissanayake M, Jayasuriya V, de Silva NK. A morphologically distinct Phlebotomus argentipes population from active cutaneous leishmaniasis foci in central Sri Lanka. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2012 May;107(3):402-9. doi: 10.1590/s0074-02762012000300016. PMID: 22510837.
  • Ranasinghe PH, Abeygunasekera PH, Athauda SB, Chandrasekharan NV, Mendis AS, Hulangamuwa CS, Wickremasinghe DR. First successful in vitro culture of Leishmania sp. causing autochthonous visceral leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka. Ceylon Med J. 2011 Dec;56(4):179-80. doi: 10.4038/cmj. v56i4.3904. PMID: 22298217.
  • Ranasinghe S, Rogers ME, Hamilton JG, Bates PA, Maingon RD. A real-time PCR assay to estimate Leishmania chagasi load in its natural sand fly vector Lutzomyia longipalpis. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2008 Sep;102(9):875-82. doi: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2008.04.003. Epub 2008 May 23. PMID: 18501935; PMCID: PMC2678673.

Books

  • Laboratory Diagnosis of Leishmaniasis. In: Atlas of dermatoses in pigmented skin. 21.4 Springer 2021, e book p 436-442. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-15-5483-4.
  • Laboratory Manual in Microbiology 2nd edition, Published by Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists 2011. ISBN 978-955-8891-03-2. Author of the Trichomoniasis section and was a contributor to Section in Parasitology
  • Guidelines on management of leishmaniasis. Sirimanna GMP, Seneviratne JKK, Samaraweera ESN, Ranawaka RR, Hulangamuwa CS, de Silva VNH, Madarasinghe NP, Ranasinghe S, Silva KKMBK, Chandrawansa PH, Ariyawansa DS 2013. Sri Lanka College of Dermatologists. ISBN 978-955-0326-02-0 Author of the diagnostic section of this book.

Selected Communications

  • Weerasekera CJ, Hapuachchige C, Wijeratne YMTY, Goonesinghe R, Wickremasinghe DR, Yahathugoda TC, Ranasinghe S Omental dirofilariasis in a patient with diabetes mellitus in Sri Lanka; likely visceralization in a patient with diabetes mellitus. Proceedings of the International Conference on Heath Sciences 2021. Faculty of Medical Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. Pp 70.
  • Jayasena Kaluarachchi TD, Weerasekera MM, Wickramasinghe R, Yasawardene S,Menike C, Jayathilake S, Ranasinghe S (2020). Fluorescence in situ Hybridization Assay to Diagnose Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the American Society of Microbiologists, USA.
  • Jayasena Kaluarachchi TD, McBain AJ, Wickramasinghe R, Yasawardene S, Menike C, Jayathilake S, Ranasinghe S, Weerasekera MM, (2020). Development of a porcine skin model for the assessment of bacterial bio films. Proceedings of the 29th Annual Scientific Sessions of the Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists. Fluorescence in situ Hybridizatiori Assay to Diagnose Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka. Pg 10-11.
  • Jayasena Kaluarachchi TD, Weerasekera MM, Ranasinghe PHKIS, Yasawardene SG, Yapa PDBL, De Silva VH, Menike C, Wickremasinghe R 2019. Clinico-demographic characterization of cutaneous leishmaniasis in patients reporting to two hospitals in Matara and Hambantota districts, Sri Lanka. International Conference on Health Sciences, Faculty of Medical Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. Pp 66
  • Gunaratna G, Ranasinghe S, Manamperi A, Pathirana N. Hasantha KP, Wickremasinghe R, de Siva N, Sooriyaarachchi M, Senarathne S, Bannaheke H, Abenayake J, Refai W, Mallwaarachchi CH, Sudarshani M, Monadl D, Hansen S, Abd El Wahed A 2017. Rapid extraction and detection of Leishmania donovani DNA from skin lesions of suspected cases in Sri Lanka. American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 66th Annual Meeting.
  • Gunaratna G, Ranasinghe S, Manamperi A, Pathirana N. Hasantha KP, Wickremasinghe R, de Siva N, Sooriyaarachchi M, Abd El Wahed 2018. Comparison of ATL buffer and RNA later as transport and storage medium for molecular diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis using skin biopsy specimens. Proceedings of the International Conference on Health Sciences, FMS, USJ.
  • Gunaratna G, Ranasinghe S, Manamperi A, Pathirana N. Hasantha KP, Wickremasinghe R, de Siva N, Sooriyaarachchi M, Abd El Wahed 2018. Introduction of Recombinase Polymerase Amplification Assay based mobile suitcase laboratory as a point of need tool to diagnose cutaneous leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka. 131st Anniversary International Medical Congress, Ceylon Medical Journal Vol 63, Supplement 1, pg 125.
  • Menike C, Wickremasinghe R, Dassanayake R, Dassanayake J, Kahatapitiya S, Wijesiriwardene I, De Alwis I, Ranasinghe S Prevalence of leishmaniasis among patients in a renal unit in an area where cutaneous leishmaniasis and chronic kidney disease overlap in Sri Lanka. 6th World Congress on Leishmaniasis, Toledo.
  • Menike WMCW, Dassanayake RT, Wickremasinghe R, Dassanayake JC, Kahatapitiya S, Wijesiriwardene IS, De Alwis I, Ranasinghe PHKIS Assessment of prevalence of Leishmanai amastigotes in buffy coat films in a renal Unit in a cutaneous leishmaniasis endemic area in Sri Lanka. Open University of Sri Lanka Research Sessions.
  • Menike WMCW, Dassanayake RT, Wickremasinghe R, Wijesiriwardene IS, De Alwis I, Ranasinghe PHKIS Screening for anti-Leishmania antibodies for visceral leishmaniasis and the presence of Leishman Donova (LD) bodies in buffy coat films in patients in the renal Unit in Teaching Hospital Anuradhapura. SLAAS Proceedings of the 72nd Annual Sessions.
  • De Silva G, Wickremasinghe R, Somaratne V, Senaratne S, Vipuladasa M, Ranasinghe S Validation of an antigen detection rapid diagnostic test kit to diagnose Sri Lankan cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania donovani. 6th World Congress on Leishmaniasis, Toledo.
  • Ratnayake DRA, Wasana DGS, Ranasinghe PHKIS Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among labourers employed at urban council Maharagama. National Health Research Symposium, Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, Sri Lanka.
  • Ranasinghe S, Hulangamuwa S, Opathella N, Wickremasinghe R, Chandrasekharan V 2015. Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) of the Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 (ITS1) region of cutaneous leishmaniasis causing Leishmania donovani in Sri Lanka. Proceedings of Annual Scientific Sessions of Faculty of Medical Sciences. 2: O- 4.
  • de Silva G, Somaratne V, Senaratne S, Vipuladasa M, Premachandra J, Munasinghe H, Munasinghe C, Ranasinghe S, Wickremasinghe R 2015. Use of a rapid diagnostic test to detect cutaneous leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka. Proceedings of Annual Scientific Sessions of Faculty of Medical Sciences. 2: P-11.
  • Ranasinghe S, Wickremasinghe R, Munasinghe A, Hulangamuwa S, Seneviratne K, Bandara S, Athauda I, Navaratne C, Silva O, Wackwella H, Matlashewski G, Wickremasinghe R 2013. Early pattern of rk39 sero-prevalence in a cutaneous leishmaniasis endemic area in Sri Lanka. The fifth world congress on leishmaniasis – Worldleish5. P- 670.
  • Myler PJ, Ramasamy G, Mukhtar M, Matlashewski G, Zhang WW, Ranasinghe S, and Costa C 2013. Comparative genomics of Leishmania isolates from Africa, Asia and South America. 5th International congress on leishmaniasis- WorldLeish5. O- 349.
  • McCall LS, Zhang WW, Ranasinghe S, Matlashewski G (2013). Live immunization against visceral leishmaniasis: immunization with a naturally attenuated cutaneous Leishmania donovani isolate from Sri Lanka protects against visceral disease. The fifth world congress on leishmaniasis – Worldleish 5 O-155.
  • Semage S, Ranasinghe S, Pathirana N, Wickremasinghe R 2013. Cutaneous Leishmanisis amongst military personnel in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka: findings from a preliminary study. 126th Scientific Medical Congress SLMA 2013.
  • Ranasinghe S, Wickremasinghe R, Munasinghe A, Hulangamuwa S, Seneviratne K, Bandara S, Athauda I, Navaratne C, Silva O, Wackwella H, Matlashewski G, Wickremasinghe R 2012. A cross sectional study to assess the socio-demographic risk factors for transmission of leishmaniasis in an endemic region of Sri Lanka. Theoretical and Practical Course on “Molecular Biology of Leishmania” ICGEB, Trieste, Italy. P-17.
  • Ranasinghe S, Hulangamuwa S, Maingon R, Nandimitra O, Wickremasinghe R, Chandrasekharan V 2012. Detection of Leishmania DNA in skin biopsy samples using DNA based methods in Sri Lanka. Theoretical and Practical Course on “Molecular Biology of Leishmania” ICGEB, Trieste, Italy. O-11.
  • Jayewardena KASC, Rathnayake HMR, Gunawardana DMDEA, Jayasooriya MVF, De Silva LDDG, Ranasinghe PHKIS Laboratory based diagnosis of intestinal parasitic infections among food handlers in kitchen-canteen complexes of University of Sri Jayewardenepura Sri Lanka. Sri 125th Anniversary International Medical Congress, Sri Lanka Medical Association, pp-161.
  • Ranasinghe PHKIS, Hamilton JGC, Rogers ME, Bates PA, Maingon RDC 2005. A real-time PCR assay to quantify Leishmania within sandflies. 5th International Symposium on Phlebotomine sandflies. O-33.
  • Ranasinghe S, Maingon R, Hamilton JGC, Ward RD 2003. Development of a highly sensitive real-time polymerase chain reaction as a tool for quantifying Leishmania in sandflies. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 6: 630.
  • Karunarathne PGJD, Abeykoon RMRB, Nilushika YC, Nadeeja KDD, Dilrukshi MAN, Wijeratne IM, Aluthe NP, Senevirathne UT, Karunarathne KCD, Kumudini WPA, Ranasinghe PHKIS, Wijayasiri WAA. Psychosocial wellbeing of children preparing for grade five examination. 50th Anniversary Academic Conference University of Sri Jayewardenepura. ME-47.
  • Ranasinghe PHKIS, Ekanayake S, Fernando GH 2001. Cryo-preservation and in-vitro culture of microfilaria of Wuchereria bancrofti. Annual Academic Sessions, FMS, USJ F-12.

 

Research Collaborations

International

  • 2008- 2015 – PhD student (2010-2013) under the supervision of Dr. Rhayza, Maingon, Senior Lecturer, Centre for Applied Entomology and Parasitology, Keele University, United Kingdom.
  • 2010-2015 – PhD student (2010-2013) under the supervision of Professor Greg Matlashewski, Centre for Host-Parasite interactions, McGill University, Canada.
  • 2010 – CHRU de Montpellier, Departement de Parasitologie – Mycologie, Centre National de Référence des Leishmania, UMR CNRS 5290/IRD 224/UM1 & 2 “MIVEGEC’, Montpellier, France: collaboration during isolation of visceral leishmaniasis causing strain in Sri Lanka for the first time.
  • 2015 – Co-Chair and organizer of distance learning EuPathDB bioinformatics virtual workshop in Sri Lanka in Collaboration with Dr. Omar Harb, Director of Education & Scientific Outreach, Eukaryotic Pathogen Database Resource Center, Penn Center for Bioinformatics, USA.
  • 2016 – Visiting Research Associate, Centre for Immunology and Infection, Hull York Medical School, United Kingdom. Work in collaboration with Prof. Paul Kaye Professor of Immunology, Centre for Immunology and Infection.
  • 2016 – Co-Chair and organizer of the workshop organized for technology transfer with Dr. Ahmed Abd El Wahed Head of Virology Laboratory, Division of Microbiology and Animal Hygiene, University of Goettingen, Germany. Title of the project: “Validation of Mobile Suitcase Laboratory; a field based rapid diagnostic test and evaluating the efficacy of different culture media and sample preservation medium for PCR to diagnose cutaneous leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka”.
  • 2017 – Collaboration with Professor Paul Kaye, Centre for Immunology and Infection, Hull York University, UK. Title of the project: “Towards a global research network for the molecular pathological stratification of leishmaniasis”.
  • 2018 – International Center for Diarrheal Diseases Research Bangladesh, Rajendra Institute of Research of Medical Sciences, BP Kiorala Institute of Health Sciences, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen and PATH. Title of the project: “A multi-country, single-blinded, phase 2 study to evaluate a point-of-need system for rapid detection of leishmaniasis and its implementation in endemic settings”.

 

Awards

  • Recipient of the highest h-Index award for the year 2020 awarded by Research & Publication committee, USJ.
  • First Place: Poster Presentation: Senaratne S, Layton A, Paul M, Kaye, Kahawita I, Wickremasinghe R, Ranasinghe S 2022. Patient perspectives of having cutaneous leishmaniasis and treatment with intralesional sodium stibogluconate. MSF Asia Scientific Days & International Conference on Medical Sciences, *University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
  • Recipient of Presidential Award for scientific publications in 2019 for highly rated scientific research as evaluated by pears and published: Parasites & Vectors.
  • First Place: Oral Presentation: Jayasena Kaluarachchi TD, Weerasekera MM, Ranasinghe PHKIS, Yasawardene SG, Yapa PDBL, De Silva VH, Menike C, Wickremasinghe R 2019. Clinico-demographic characterization of cutaneous leishmaniasis in patients reporting to two hospitals in Matara and Hambantota districts, Sri Lanka. International Conference on Health Sciences, Faculty of Mediccal Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka.
  • First Place: Oral Presentation: Gunaratna G, Ranasinghe S, Manamperi A, Pathirana N. Hasantha KP, Wickremasinghe R, de Siva N, Sooriyaarachchi M, Abd El Wahed 2018. Comparison of ATL buffer and RNAlater as transport media for molecular diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis using skin punch biopsy specimens. International Conference on Health Sciences 2018, 25th Anniversary of Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura
  • Recipient of Presidential Award for scientific publications in 2015 for highly rated scientific research as evaluated by pears and published: Memorias Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 2015
  • Recipient of Presidential Award for scientific publications in 2014 for highly rated scientific research as evaluated by pears and published: PLOS Pathogens 2014
  • Research Award University of Sri Jayewardenepura for scientific publications 2014
  • Recipient of Presidential Award for scientific publications in 2013 for highly rated scientific research as evaluated by pears and published: Vaccine 2013, American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2013
  • Recipient of National Research Council of Sri Lanka Merit Award for scientific publications in 2012
  • Recipient of participation award for the WHO funded in-service course on “Taxonomy of Phlebotomus sandflies” 2009. Department of Entomology, Medical Research Institute, Sri Lanka.
  • Recipient of Presidential Award for scientific publications in 2008 for highly rated scientific research as evaluated by pears and published: Transactions of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene

 

Patents Held

Work of special reward Isolation of the visceral leishmaniasis causing strain in Sri Lanka for the first time and obtaining the opportunity to name it as MHOM/LK/2010/OVN3

Other Faculties of University of Sri Jayewardenepura

  • Faculty of Allied Health Sciences
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