Google scholar Citation<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/li><\/ul>[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text]At retirement, Professor Sunthra Atukorala held the post of Senior Professor of Biochemistry and Chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine. With more than 40 years of experience in teaching Nutrition and Biochemistry to Medical Undergraduates, she contributed to updating and improving the course content and teaching\/learning methods in Biochemistry and as founder Chairperson was responsible for planning, developing and conducting the Module on Nutrition in the module based Medical curriculum. He extensive experience in postgraduate teaching includes, course design for MSc Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Food and Nutrition, University of Kelaniya, and teaching on many PGIM courses as well as PhD\u2019s at the Faculty of Medicine, Colobmo.<\/p>\nShe has over 60 publications in peer reviewed journals including many in coveted Science citation indexed journals such as the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, and the British Journal of Nutrition and communications too numerous to mention.<\/p>\n
She has numerous awards to her credit, some of which are: Presidential Research Awards, 2006, 2004, 2003,1999, Prof. Stanley Wijesundera Memorial Award 2012, <\/strong>Kandy Society of Medicine Prize for Health Research, 2002, <\/strong>Dr. Frank Gunasekera prize for best research paper (Co-author) in Community Medicine\u00a0 124th\u00a0 Anniversary\u00a0 Academic Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2011, <\/strong>S. E. Seneviratne prize for outstanding research (Co-author), 122nd Anniversary\u00a0 Academic Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2009, <\/strong>S. E. Seneviratne prize for outstanding research, 113th Anniversary Academic Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2000, <\/strong>E.M.Wijerama Award for outstanding research, 103rd Anniversary Academic Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association, 1990, <\/strong>S.E.Seneviratne award for outstanding research, 99th Anniversary Academic Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association, March 1986 , Commonwealth Tropical Medicine Research Studentship, U.K., 1977-1980.<\/p>\nThe many professional posts held included: President, National Academy of Sciences of Sri Lanka, 2009-2010, Fellow, National Academy of Sciences of Sri Lanka, from 1998, \u00a0\u00a0Fellow of the Institute of Chemistry, Ceylon & Chartered Chemist from 1991, President Nutrition Society of Sri Lanka, 1990 \u2013 1992, President of the Chemical Sciences Section (Section E2), Sri Lanka\u00a0\u00a0 Association for the Advancement of Science, 1991, Full Member, Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) , Member, International College of Nutrition, Resource person for Bangladesh Academy of Sciences organized workshop on: \u201cChallenges of young women scientists in new and emerging sciences\u201d, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2012. , IAEA National Experts meeting on:\u201dStable isotopic techniques\u201d, Bangalore, India, 2011, Represented the National Academy of Sciences of Sri Lanka at the 4th<\/sup>\u00a0 AASA-FASAS joint international conference on Science education in Asia and the Pacific Seoul, Korea, 2010.\u00a0 Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health organized Technical meeting on \u201cBiomarkers of nutrition for development (BOND)\u201d, Vienna, Austria, 2010 , <\/strong>Represented the National Academy of Sciences of Sri Lanka at the Inter Academy Panel (IAP) General Assembly and Conference, London, UK, 2010. Chairperson, Research & Higher Degrees Committee, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo , Scientific visit, MRC Human Nutrition Research, Elsie Widdowson Laboratory,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 University of Cambridge, UK 2008., Short term Consultant, World Bank, Desk Review on Malnutrition in Sri Lanka, Scale, scope and Causes, 2007, Resource person for the WHO sponsored Consultative meeting on:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAdolescent nutrition”, Bangkok, Thailand, August, 2005, Member of the Editorial Board, National Science Foundation, from 2005 to 2012. Advisor, IAEA for Consultative meeting on “Thematic Planning on Human Nutrition”, IAEA, Vienna, Austria, December 2004, Ad-hoc Reviewer for British Journal of Nutrition,\u00a0 2003, Member of the panel of reviewers for the International Nutritional Anaemia Consultative Group (INACG), 2001, Member of the Sri Lanka Medical Association Lipid\u00a0 Management Guidelines Committee 2002-2004. Regional Resource person for the WHO\/UNICEF\/FAO sponsored International Training Workshop on: \u201cDeveloping applied nutrition projects – maternal and adolescent nutrition\u201d held at Institute of Nutrition Mahidol University,Thailand, May 1999, Member of the Ministry of\u00a0 Health & UNICEF sponsored working group on: Food based dietary guidelines, 2002, Temporary adviser to Regional Director, WHO for the Regional meeting\u00a0 on: “Prevention & control of vitamin A deficiency, Jakarta, Indonesia, 1988, Recipient of WHO Fellowships for post doctoral research, National Institute of\u00a0 Nutrition, Hyderabad, India and Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University Thailand, 1991, University of Queensland, Australia, 1986<\/p>\nHer contribution to the University and National development was through being a member of the Presidential sub-committee on \u201cMicronutrient Policy\u201d of the National Policy and Food Security Programme 1998, development of a \u201cNational strategy and broad plan of action against anaemia in pregnancy\u201d as a member of the core group convened by the Ministry of Health and Women s Affairs, 1994, Contributed to the development of: Guidelines on management of lipid disorders in Sri Lanka as a member of the National lipid Guidelines Committee, 2002-2004, Member of the task force for prevention of diabetes and Co-author ( with Dr. R\u00a0 Jayatissa) of\u00a0 the Nutrition education component of the advocacy document prepared by the Diabetes prevention task force 2005, development of; \u201cFood based dietary guidelines for Sri Lankans\u201d as a member of the core group convened by the Ministry of\u00a0 Health and Indigenous Medicine, 2002, Member of the Sri Lanka Medical Association committee on Nutrition 2002. Participation in nutrition education programmes for patients attending the cardiac rehabilitation programme of the Institute of Cardiology, NHSL\u00a0 2002-2011.Development of educational material and conducting training programmes for estate health \u00a0staff on improving nutrition of mothers and children 1998, Development of educational material and participating in training programmes conducted by the Minsitry of health for prevention of anaemia and vitamin A deficiency in 1994.<\/p>\n
She has delivered many orations and Keynote addresses and invited lectures at national and international scientific fora including WHO SEARO and IAEA. Her contribution to research development was significant, and she initiated a research programme which has been sustained to date through significant capacity building and human resource development in Nutritional Biochemistry at the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Colombo with financial support from\u00a0\u00a0 NARESA, NIHS ( Kalutara),WHO, UNICEF, USAID (Micronutrient project, International life Sciences Institute), Programme Support Group & Technical\u00a0\u00a0 Assistance Team (funded by Governments of Netherlands and Norway) & the IAEA.\u00a0 Establishment of facilities and equipment for radioisotopic work and for research using\u00a0 stable isotopes with a Technical Cooperation grant from the IAEA. Total funds received add upto US$ 344,176.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Several postgraduates have benefitted from this research programme. Six\u00a0 postgraduates have been awarded Ph.D degrees while eighteen postgraduates have successfully completed their M.Sc degrees in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and \u00a0\u00a0two Medical Officers have been awarded the degree of Doctor of Medicine – MD\u00a0 (Community\u00a0 Medicine) for research work\u00a0 carried out under my supervision.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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