Research & Grants

Research Interests

  • Genetics and Genomic Medicine
  • Bioethics
  • Biomedical Informatics

Research Grants

  • [2016] National Science Foundation. Grant No: RPHS/2016/C03 – Rs. 5,000,000/- As inititial funding for the project titled “The Sri Lankan Inherited Cancer Biobank (ICBB) & The Sri Lankan Inherited Cancer Genetic Variation Database (ICGVDb). Role: Principal Investgator.
  • [2016] National Science Foundation. Grant No: RPHS/2016/C04 – Rs. 4,000,000/- As initial funding for the project titled “Biomarker Discovery in Haematology – Myelodysplastic Syndromes”. Role: Co Investgiator.
  • [2016] National Science Foundation. Grant No: RPHS/2016/C02 – Rs. 8,000,000/- As initial funding for the project titled “Strengthening the Cancer Information Systems in the Ministry of Health `{`Hospital Information System (HIS); electronic Morbidity and Mortality System (eIMMR); National Cancer Registry (NCR)`}`”. Role: Principal Investgator.
  • [2015] University of Colombo – Collaborative Grant – Rs. 3,000,000/- As funding for the research project “Clinical and Molecular Genetic Studies in a Cohort of Sri Lankan Patients with Inherited Cancer Syndromes”.
  • [2014] An Industry Grant from John Keells Research – Rs. 11,800,000/- Funding to establish a Synthetic Biology Research Group and conduct synthetic biology research to develop a platform technology for salt tolerant crop plants.
  • [2013] University Grants Commission, Sri Lanka– Innovative Research Grants – Rs. 32,000,000/- Funding for the following PhD projects: Molecular, Cytogenetic, Gene expression and epigenetic profiles of haematopoietic stem cells of patients with Myelodysplastic Syndrome in a Sri Lankan Population of W.M.M.S.Bandara, PhD student; and Molecular characterization of Mesenchymal stem cells of patients with Myelodysplastic Syndrome in a Sri Lankan Population of A.J.I.S.Rathnayake, PhD student. Both Co-supervised with Dr. H.W.W. Goonasekera.
  • [2012] University of Colombo – AP/3/2011/PG/14: Rs. 1,500,000/- As partial funding for the research project “A molecular genetic study of bladder cancer in the Sri Lankan Sinhalese population” of Dr. Ajith Malalasekara, PhD student, co-supervised with Prof. Rohan W Jayasekara
  • [2011] University Grants Commission – Grant No. UGC/ICD/GR2011/02/07: Rs. 1,000,000/- As partial funding for the research project “A molecular genetic study of bladder cancer in the Sri Lankan Sinhalese population” of Dr. Ajith Malalasekara, PhD student, co-supervised with Prof. Rohan W Jayasekara.
  • [2010] European Social Research Council. Research Grant: £ 21,316 For the international collaborative study on “Biomedical and Health Experimentation in South Asia: Critical Perspectives on collaboration, governance and competition” involving University of Durham, UK; Centre for Social and Ethical Research, Mumbai, India, Social Science Baha, Nepal and University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Role – Collaborator.
  • [2009] Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Higher Education. Norad’s Programme for Master Studies (NOMA) – NOK 2,525,000 (approx: Rs. 50,500,000) To conduct an MSc Course and Research in Medical and Bioinformatics for an additional two years.
  • [2009] Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Higher Education. Norad’s Programme for Master Studies (NOMA) – NOK 200,000 (approx: Rs. 4,000,000) This is a start up grant to establish collaboration with the Department of Medical Genetics of the University of Oslo to develop and conduct MSc Courses and Research in Genetics.
  • [2009] To develop and conduct a certificate course on research ethics / ethics review to train members of ethics review committees (Grant No: SE SRL JJE,JJI,JJC,JJF 001RB 08) Rs. 322,000.
  • [2009] Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Higher Education. Norad’s Programme for Master Studies (NOMA) – NOK 5,994,000 (approx: Rs. 119,880,000) To conduct an MSc Course and Research in Clinical Genetics and Genetic Diagnostics.
  • [2008] Information Communication Technology Agency – Partnership Assistance Project Grant No: ICTA/CON/74/20 – Rs. 5,000,000 To develop a health education website in Sinhala and Tamil for the general public. The website is now online at http://www.wedananasala.org
  • [2008] To publish a quarterly newsletter on research ethics review (Grant No: SE SRL JJE 001/RB 08/ER 8.1.3) Rs. 210,000.
  • [2008] To conduct workshops dealing with specific issues related to Research Ethics Review (Grant No: SE SRL JJE 001/RB 08/ER 8.1.2) Rs. 420,000.
  • [2007] Information Communication Technology Agency – Community Assistance Project Grant No: ICTA/CON/73/C034 – Rs. 612,000 To provide distance genetic consultation services using the Internet to rural communities – the tele-genetics project.
  • [2007] National Institute of Health, Maryland, USA Research Grant: US$ 1150 For the Sri Lanka component of an International Survey of Scientists and Policy Makers’ Attitudes Toward Research on Stored Human Biological Materials. Role – Co-Investigator (Principal Investigator – Prof. Reidar Lie, NIH, USA)
  • [2007] The Norwegian Centre for International cooperation in Higher Education. Norad’s Programme for Master Studies (NOMA) – NOK 6,000,000 (approximately Rs. 120,000,000) To develop and conduct an MSc Course and Research in Medical and Bioinformatics
  • [2007] National Institute of Health, Maryland, USA Research Grant: US$ 16,630 For a study of Values at the Bedside: A Survey of Sri Lankan Physicians Regarding Ethical Dilemmas in Clinical Practice. Role – Co-Investigator (Principal Investigator – Dr. Marion Dannis, NIH, USA)
  • [2006] IRQUE Project Research Grants for Staff Student Collaborative Research 2006: Grant No – 2006-4: Rs. 150,000/- A study of genetic factors at the maternal-fetal interface that predispose to adult onset cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes. Role: Principal Investigator.
  • [2006] IRQUE Project Research Grants for Staff Student Collaborative Research 2006: Rs. 150,000/- For a study of genetic variants in the CYP2D6 gene in the Sri Lankan population Role: Co-investigator (Principal Investigator – Prof. R. L. Jayakody)
  • [2006] Review of priority research conducted in Sri Lanka (Grant No:SE SRL IER 001/RB 07/ER 2.2.7) Rs. 425,000.
  • [2006] Forum for fostering dialogue among ethics review committees in Sri Lanka (Grant No: SE SRL IER 001/RB 07/ER 2.2.6) Rs. 850,000.
  • [2006] National Consultative Workshop of Ethical Review Committees of Sri Lanka (Grant No: SE SRL IER 001/RB 07/ER 2.2.5) Rs. 815,200.
  • [2005] IRQUE Project Research Grants for Staff Student Collaborative Research 2005: Rs. 150,000/- For the study of prevalence of the Factor V 4070A>G polymorphism in the Sri Lankan population. Role: Principal Investigator
  • [2005] National Research Council Research Grants 2005 – Grant No 05-15: Rs. 3,799,980/- For the study of Inherited factors in pre-eclampsia and weight of babies at birth: Investigations on the role of the epidermal growth factor (EFG) gene. Role: Principal Investigator.
  • [2005] National Science Foundation – Grant No SIDA/2005/BT/04: Rs. 945,220/- For the study of the association of genetic thrombophilic polymorphisms with recurrent pregnancy loss. Role: Principal Investigator
  • [2005] University Grants Commission – Grant No. RPC/2005/2i/CMB: Rs. 300,000/- For the candidate gene association study of genetic susceptibility to cutaneous leishmaniasis. Role: Co-investigator (Principal Investigator – Dr. N Samaranayake)
  • [2005] National Science Foundation – Grant No RG/2005/EQ/02: Rs. 998,960/- This is an equipment grant to buy a -80oC Freezer for bio banking.
  • [2004] University of Colombo Development Fund – Rs. 4,800,000/- To automate the cytogenetic diagnostic service
  • [2004] National Science Foundation – Grant No SIDA/2004/BT/01: Rs. 2,238,000/- For the study of the frequency of genetic thrombophilic polymorphisms in the Sri Lankan population and the association of these polymorphisms with pre-eclampsia. Role: Principal Investigator
  • [2004] University of Colombo Development Fund – Rs. 4,800,000/- To automate the cytogenetic diagnostic service
  • [2004] Faculty of Medicine Development Fund – Rs. 1,500,000/- To set up a molecular genetic diagnostic laboratory
  • [2002] Sri Lanka Medical Association – Glaxo Welcome Research Award 2002: Rs. 50,000/- For the project proposal titled “Does urinalysis by the heat coagulation method performed by midwives in the ward reliably predict significant proteinuria?” Role: Principal Investigator.

Travel Grants

  • [2008] National Science Foundation – Travel Grant: Rs. 150,000/-

    To attend the 13th Human Genome Meeting, Hyderabad, India. September 26-30, 2008

  • [2006] National Science Foundation – Travel Grant: Rs. 100,000/-

    To attend the 11th International Congress of Human Genetics. Brisbane, Australia. August 6-10, 2006.

  • [2006] University Grants Commission Research Promotion Centre Grants 2005/6– Grant No. RPC/2005/3iii/COL: Rs. 250,000/-

    This grant was awarded for to me to travel to University of Nottingham, UK to develop and strengthen the ongoing collaborative research projects between the School of Molecular Medical Sciences, University of Nottingham, UK and the Human Genetics Unit, University of Colombo.

  • [2002] Young Investigator Travel Grant: £400.

    Awarded by the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy (ISSHP) to attend and present the paper titled “The MTHFR C677T polymorphism is not associated with pre-eclampsia in women in Nottingham” at the 13th World Congress of the ISSHP in Toronto, Canada from 2 to 5 June 2002.

  • I was responsible for obtaining the following grants from the World Health Organisation for the Ethics Review Committee, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo.

    1. [2006] National Consultative Workshop of Ethical Review Committees of Sri Lanka (Grant No: SE SRL IER 001/RB 07/ER 2.2.5) Rs. 815,200
    1. [2006] Forum for fostering dialogue among ethics review committees in Sri Lanka (Grant No: SE SRL IER 001/RB 07/ER 2.2.6) Rs. 850,000 
    1. [2006] Review of priority research conducted in Sri Lanka (Grant No:SE SRL IER 001/RB 07/ER 2.2.7) Rs. 425,000
    1. [2008] To conduct workshops dealing with specific issues related to Research Ethics Review (Grant No: SE SRL JJE 001/RB 08/ER 8.1.2) Rs. 420,000 
    1. [2008] To publish a quarterly newsletter on research ethics review (Grant No: SE SRL JJE 001/RB 08/ER 8.1.3) Rs. 210,000 
    1. [2009] To develop and conduct a certificate course on research ethics / ethics review to train members of ethics review committees (Grant No: SE SRL JJE,JJI,JJC,JJF 001RB 08) Rs. 322,000