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Professor Prasad Katulanda is a Professor of Medicine and the Head of the Department of Clinical Medicine. He is also a Consultant Endocrinologist and Diabetologist at the University Medical Unit at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n
Professor Katulanda is a distinguished academic, clinician, and internationally acclaimed researcher in the fields of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). He currently serves as Professor of Medicine and Head of the Department of Clinical Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, where he provides strategic academic leadership in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education, while also contributing extensively to clinical service delivery at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka. In recognition of his professional leadership and contributions to medicine, he will serve as the President of the Ceylon College of Physicians in 2025.<\/p>\n
He received his undergraduate medical education at the University of Colombo, graduating with an MBBS with First Class Honours in 1998, achieving distinctions across a wide range of disciplines including Medicine, Paediatrics, Biochemistry, Pathology, Pharmacology, Microbiology, and Forensic Medicine. His exceptional academic performance was recognized through numerous prestigious awards and gold medals, culminating in his selection as the Best Student of the Faculty of Medicine and the University Student of the Year. These early achievements reflect a strong foundation of academic excellence, leadership, and professional commitment.<\/p>\n
Following his undergraduate training, Professor Katulanda pursued postgraduate specialization in Internal Medicine at the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine (PGIM), Sri Lanka, obtaining his MD (Medicine). He subsequently undertook advanced research training at the University of Oxford, where he completed a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in Endocrinology and Diabetes. During his tenure at Oxford, he served as a Clinical Research Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, gaining extensive experience in advanced research methodologies, epidemiology, and translational medicine, and establishing strong international academic collaborations.<\/p>\n
Professor Katulanda\u2019s academic and clinical career spans more than two decades, marked by progressive appointments across the spectrum of medical training and academia, including roles as Demonstrator, Intern Medical Officer, Senior House Officer, Registrar in Internal Medicine, Senior Registrar in Endocrinology, and Senior Lecturer, prior to his appointment as Professor of Medicine. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a sustained commitment to excellence in patient care, medical education, and research.<\/p>\n
He has made an exceptional contribution to postgraduate medical education and specialist training in Sri Lanka. As a trainer, examiner, and supervisor at PGIM, he has been actively involved in training programmes in Medicine, Endocrinology, and Clinical Biochemistry. He has supervised and mentored a large number of MD, PhD, MPhil, and MSc trainees, playing a pivotal role in developing the next generation of clinicians and researchers. His mentorship has extended beyond Sri Lanka, contributing to capacity building across the South Asian region. Notably, he has been involved in training over a hundred medical professionals in research related to diabetes and NCDs.<\/p>\n
Professor Katulanda is widely recognized for his outstanding research contributions, particularly in the epidemiology, prevention, and management of diabetes and metabolic disorders in South Asian populations. He has authored over 160 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact international journals, with more than 12,000 citations and an h-index exceeding 45, reflecting his significant and sustained scholarly influence. His work has contributed to advancing scientific understanding of diabetes, informing clinical practice, and shaping public health policies.<\/p>\n
He has led and contributed to several landmark national and international research initiatives, including the Sri Lanka Diabetes and Cardiovascular Study, the Sri Lanka Young Diabetes Study, and the ongoing Sri Lanka Non-Communicable Disease Survey, which have generated critical epidemiological data for the country. He is also a key contributor to major international collaborations such as the South Asia Biobank, one of the largest population-based studies focusing on non-communicable diseases in South Asia.<\/p>\n
A major milestone in his academic career is the establishment of the Diabetes Research Unit (DRU) at the University of Colombo in 2005. Under his leadership, the DRU has evolved into a nationally and regionally recognized centre of excellence for research and training in diabetes and non-communicable diseases. The unit has played a crucial role in enhancing research capacity, facilitating multidisciplinary collaboration, and supporting evidence-based healthcare in Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n
Professor Katulanda has successfully secured substantial competitive research funding from leading international and national funding agencies, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH, USA), the Wellcome Trust, the European Union (EU Horizon programmes), the National Institute for Health Research (UK), the World Bank, and the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka. These grants have supported large-scale, multidisciplinary research programmes addressing critical challenges in NCD prevention, early detection, and management.<\/p>\n
In addition to his academic and research achievements, Professor Katulanda has played a significant role in institutional leadership, governance, and academic development. He has served in multiple leadership roles within the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, including Chairperson of the Clinical Science Stream, Chairperson of the Simulation Centre, and Co-Director of the Central Laboratory. Furthermore, his appointment as Director of the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine (PGIM) from 2026 marks a significant milestone in his career, reflecting his leadership in shaping postgraduate medical education and policy at a national level. He also contributes to national-level academic and professional bodies through his involvement in specialty boards, curriculum development, and policy advisory roles.<\/p>\n
He is a Fellow of several prestigious professional organizations, including the Royal College of Physicians (London), the American College of Endocrinology (USA), the Ceylon College of Physicians, the National Academy of Sciences of Sri Lanka, and other regional professional bodies. These fellowships recognize his excellence in clinical practice, research, and academic leadership, and affirm his standing as a leading authority in endocrinology and metabolic diseases.<\/p>\n
Through his sustained and multifaceted contributions to clinical medicine, research, medical education, and health policy, Professor Katulanda continues to play a transformative role in advancing the understanding, prevention, and management of diabetes and non-communicable diseases in Sri Lanka and globally. His work has had a lasting impact on improving patient care, strengthening research capacity, and shaping evidence-based healthcare systems in the region.<\/p>\n
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