Academic and Professional Qualifications
EDUCATION:
- PhD in Reproductive Biology - 2011
August 2007 to November 2011
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
Thesis Title: “Olfactomedin-1 (Olfm-1) in Human Endometrium and Fallopian Tube: its Roles on Endometrial Receptivity and Tubal Ectopic Pregnancy”
Thesis grade: Outstanding (nominated for Stephen Chan Gold Medal for best PhD thesis in the Year 2011)
Supervisors: Professor W S B Yeung & Associate Prof. Calvin Kai-Fai Lee
- Research Student
August 2003 to September 2004
Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, JAPAN.
The Laboratory of Animal Reproductive Physiology and Functions
From 01st October 2003 to 31st September 2004
Supervisors: Professor Akio Miyamoto and Professor M P B Wijayagunawardhana
- Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Honours {B.Sc. (Agr.)Hon.}
Specialized in Animal Science
January 2000 to March 2004 ( final year was completed in Japan as a research student)
TEACHING:
I have been teaching and evaluating students at both undergraduate and postgraduate courses listed
below for more than eight years.
Undergraduate Teaching
- AS 1101 Animal Biochemistry
- ASF 1102 Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals
- ASF 1202 Analytical Techniques in Animal Feed and Products
- AS 2101 Anatomy, Physiology and Health Management of Farm Animals
- AS 3203 Applied Animal Physiology
- AS 4105 Scientific Writing and Communication in Animal Science
- AS 4106 Animal Biotechnology
Postgraduate Teaching:
- AS 5102 Comparative Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals
- AS5120 Endocrinology of Farm Animals
- AS 5126 Quantitative and Molecular Genetics of Farm Animals
- AS 5128 Reproductive Physiology of Farm Animals
- AS 5151 Biochemical Genetics and Cytogenetic
- AS 5136 Introduction to Molecular Biology in Animal Science
- AS 5197 Proposal Formulation and Scientific Writing
- AS 5133 Fish Biotechnology
- AS 5202 Animal Biotechnology
- AS 5264 Cell Biology in Animal Science
- AB 5106 Exploring the Genome : Principles and Techniques
- AB 5122 Gene Manipulation
- AB 5125 Protein Engineering
- AB 5222 Gene Expression & Developmental Genetics
- BM 516 Human Molecular Genetics
- Laboratory-in-charge /Principal Investigator: Animal Physiology & Animal Biotechnology Laboratory (Research Lab 1)
Department of Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Conducting research and supervising research students.
RESEARCH :
I have been mainly working in the field of molecular physiology /reproductive biology paying special attention to subfertility , infertility, assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) ,reproductive toxicology and cell sgnallings. Recently my research focuses were widened with muti-deciplinary enegagements towards cancer biology, host-pathogen interactions, evaluation of bio-actives from natural sources as therapeutic agents , extracellular vesicles, molecular characterizations and development of molecular diagnostic tools as well.
RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS:
Please see the publication details in the below links
Recent selected Publications :
Subhasinghe I., Karunarathna H.M.H.N., Bandara , H.M.T.K., Kodithuwakku S.P., Gallage H.C., Kalupahana R.S., Kottawatta K.S.A. (2024) . Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns and Biofilms Resurgence Ability of Escherichia coli Associated with Commercial Layer Chicken Farms in Sri Lanka. Vet Microbiol . 2025 Feb 5:302:110422. doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2025.110422.
Chanaka Premathilaka, Suranga Kodithuwakku, Getnet Midekessa, Kasun Godakumara, Qurat Ul Ain Reshi, Aneta Andronowska, Toomas Orro, Alireza Fazeli. (2024). Bovine Faecal Extracellular Vesicles: A novel non-invasive tool for understanding gut physiology and pathophysiology in calves. Journal of Dairy Science. In press. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2024-25920
Malshani De Silva, Devinda Wickramasingha, Nirodha Abayalath, Basil Alexander, Missaka Wijayagunawardane, Kai Fai Lee, Suranga Kodithuwakku. (2024). Early pregnancy diagnosis in cows using corpus luteum blood flow analysis based on colour Doppler ultrasonography and mRNA analysis. BMC Vet Res 20, 572 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-024-04438-5
Subhashini Muhandiram, Suranga Kodithuwakku, Kasun Godakumara, Alireza Fazeli. (2024). Rapid increase of MFGE8 secretion from endometrial epithelial cells is an indicator of extracellular vesicle mediated embryo maternal dialogue. Sci Rep 14, 25911 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-75893-1
Seyed Omid Mousavi, Qurat Ul Ain Reshi, Kasun Godakumara, Suranga Kodithuwakku, Alireza Fazeli. (2024). Extracellular vesicles as mediators of stress response in embryo-maternal communication. Front. Cell Dev. Biol. 12:1440849. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1440849
Keerthie Dissanayake, Kasun Godakumara, Subhashini Muhandiram, Suranga Kodithuwakku, Alireza Fazeli. (2024). Do extracellular vesicles have specific target cells?; Extracellular vesicle mediated embryo maternal communication. Front. Mol. Biosci. 11:1415909. doi: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1415909
Subhashini Muhandiram, Thusitha K Karunarathna, Eranga H Siriweera, Chathura J Ratnayake, Suranga P Kodithuwakku. (2024). Molecular detection of human papillomavirus prevalence in clinically normal females and identification of high-risk HPV 16 and 18 under low resources setting: a cohort study from Sri Lanka. VirusDis. 35, 271–280 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13337-024-00875-w
Johanna Piibor, Andres Waldmann, Madhusha Prasadani, Ants Kavak, Aneta Andronowska, Claudia Klein, Suranga Kodithuwakku, Alireza Fazeli. (2024). Investigation of Uterine Fluid Extracellular Vesicles’ Proteomic Profiles Provides Novel Diagnostic Biomarkers of Bovine Endometritis. Biomolecules 2024, 14(6), 626; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14060626
ACADEMIC DISTINCTIONS & AWARDS
AWARDS/ PRIZES /FELLOWSHIPS :
- Senior Research Fellow : under EU grant COMBIVET ERA CHAIR, Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, EMU,Estonia
- Reseach Associate : Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicne, The University of Hong Kong (2019-2021)
- Titular Fellowship – Association of Commonwealth Universities, UK (July 2018 to September 2018).
- Full Scholarship from Marine Biological Laboratory&Burroughs Welcome Fund, MA USA to follow Frontiers in Reproduction 2014 at MBL, USA.
- Overseas Special Training Programme (OSTP) fellowship from National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka -2014.
- Sri Lanka President’s Awards for Scientific Publications in Indexed Journals in the years of; 2005,2007, 2010, 2011 ,2012 and 2015
- National Research Council of Sri Lanka merit award for the scientific publication in the year 2013.
- A.A. Appadurai memorial scholarship for the best performances in all courses in Animal Science up to end of 4100 series. University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
- Upali Ekanayake memorial scholarship for the Entomology, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
- Christopher de Serum Siriwardena Scholarship for the best performances in Farm Practice Course in 2002 with the GPA of 4.00. University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
- Awarded a Japanese government scholarship to carry out research as a special auditor in Obihiro University, Japan for one year. Obihiro University of Agric. & Vet. Medicine, Japan
- Awarded a competitive travel grant by international Society for Study of Reproduction
(SSR) to present a paper at 37th annual meeting of SSR at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, 2004. - Awarded a travel grant by the British Andrology Society (BAS) to present a paper at annual meeting of BAS at University of Sheffield, UK, 2005
- Best research presentation award in the Animal Production and Reproduction Session at the 57th Annual Scientific Sessions of the Sri Lanka Veterinary Association 2005
- Postgraduate Research Studentship 2007 -2011: Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong.
RESEARCH GRANTS :
- Baltic-German University Liaison Office, Latvia. “Impact of extracellular vesicles present in uterine fluid of cows with endometritis on in vitro embryo development”. EUR 7000. Principal Investigator /Project Manager
- Estonian University of Life Sciences, Estonia.” Baseline funding for supporting the activities related to the project "Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived Extracellular Vesicles Based Targeted Therapy for Bovine Endometritis". EUR 50000.2023-2024. Principal Investigator
- Chinese Academy of Science. Profiling of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in a cohort of couples undergoing assisted reproductive technology in Hong Kong and impact assessment of PAH on semen quality, endometrial receptivity, embryo implantation and IVF outcomes: A pilot study” . RMB 50000. 2021-2022. Principal Investigator
- Ferring Pharmaceutical COVID-19 Investigational Grants in Reproductive Medicine and Maternal Health on “Role of ACE and ACE2 inhibitors on embryo implantation: in vitro spheroid-endometrial co-culture studies”. Euro 20,000. Co-Investigator. Completed
- World Bank AHED- ELTA/ELSE Grant to the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya.
SL Rs. 120 million (US$ 600,000). Section Writer and Coordinator of the Activity 1 on establishing “Skill Laboratory” for Molecular, Microbiological and Analytical Skills Development in undergraduate students of the Faculty of Agriculture University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (2018-2021). - A special grant from Department of Agriculture, Sri Lanka. Molecular Identification of Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) to support in correct identification of Fall Armyworm. (2019). SL Rs.0.5 million (US$ 4,000). Principal Investigator. Completed
- Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment. “National Survey on Persistent Organic Pollutants in Breast Milk Giving Special Reference to Dioxins in Breast Milk in a Sri Lankan Cohort” (2019-2020) . SL Rs 1.0 Million ( US$ 7,100). Co-investigator. 2019-2021
- HDDES Extracts Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka – University of Peradeniya Industry Partnership Grant (2019). SLRs. 8 million (US$ 64,000). “Value Addition of Ceylon Cinnamon Extracts and Bark Wastes”. Principal Investigator. 2019-2021
- University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, Competitive Research Grant -2018. “Monitoring, Analysing and Modelling of Ambient Air Quality (AAQ) in Kandy City, Sri Lanka”. URG/2017/28/E . SL Rs. 0.5 Million (US$ 4,000) . Co-Investigator. 2018-2019. Completed
- University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, Competitive Research Grant -2018.. “Development of Rapid Molecular Diagnosis Method to Detect Newcastle Disease Virus in Sri Lanka ”. URG/2017/56/V . SL Rs. 0.5 Million (US$ 4,000). Co-Investigator. 2018-2019. Completed
- University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, Competitive Research Grant -2018. “Profiling of Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) planktonic and biofilm associated E. Coli isolated from Commercial Layer Chicken Farms in Kurungala District of Sri Lanka”. URG/2017/58/V. SL Rs. 0.5 Million (US$ 4,000). Co-Investigator. 2018-2020. Completed
- University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, Competitive Research Grant -2018. . “Evaluation of Antimicrobial Effects of Ceylon Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zylanicum) essential oils on oral biofilms”. URG/2017/21/D. SL Rs. 1.15 Million (US$ 9,200) Co-Investigator. 2018-2020
- University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, Competitive Research Grant -2018.. “The Effects of Heen Bovitya (Osbeckia octandra) leaf extract on major liver fibrosis associated protein expression and regulation in a cirrhotic rat model”.URG/2017/Ag/03 SL Rs. 1 Million (US$ 8,000) . Principal Investigator. 2018-2019.Completed
- University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Seed Funds For Basic Research (2017). “Mechanistic study of endocrine disrupting chemical Mancozeb (Manganese ethylene bis dithiocarbamate) on implantation”. HK$ 66,490 (SLRs. 1.4 million). Co-Investigator. Completed.
- National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka. Health Science Special Grant Programme 2017. “Novel biomarkers of breast cancer predictive of therapeutic and prognostic value in pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women”. SLRs. 8.00 million (US$ 64,000). Co- Investigator. 2017-2020.
- National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka. Health Science Special Grant Programme 2017. “Establishment of Molecular Biomarkers Based Detection Tools for Early Screening of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection and Association of HPV in Pathophysiology of Cervical Cancer in Sri Lankan Women”. SLRs. 8.0 million (US$ 64,000). Co- Investigator. 2017-2021.
- National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka. Competitive Research Equipment Grants 2016. For Inverted Florescence Microscope with Imaging System. SL Rs. 4.6 Million (US$ 36,000). Principal Investigator. Completed
- Vehicle Emission Test Trust Fund, Sri Lanka. Special Grant. “Monitoring Kandy City Air Quality” ( Theme:” Health effects of Particle matters found in Kandy Air”). SLRs. 16.5 million (US$ 130,000). Co-Investigator/ Theme leader. Completed
- National Research Council of Sri Lanka Competitive “Target Oriented Mega Research Grant” 2014.NCR TO 14-10. “Self Sufficiency in Milk Production in Sri Lanka”. SL Rs. 50 Million (US$ 450,000) . Theme Leader: Improvement of Reproductive Efficiency in Dairy Cattle. Completed
- National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka Competitive Research Grant 2014 . Grant No. RG/2014/HS/06. “ Effects of Endocrine Disruptor Mancozeb on Oviduct/Fallopian Tube Proteome and Secretome” . SL Rs. 1.3 million. (US$ 11,000) Principal Investigator. Completed
- University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, Competitive Research Grant -2013. “Effect/s of the Endocrine Disruptor Bisphenol A (BPA) on the Oviductal Proteome and Secretome”. SL Rs. 2 million. (US$ 16,000). Grant No. RG/AF/2013/05/Ag. Principal Investigator. Completed
- National Research Council of Sri Lanka, Competitive Research Grant -2013. Grant No. 13-59. “Effect of endocrine disrupturing fungicide “Mancozeb” (metal ethylene-bis-dithiocarbamate) on human endometrial receptivity and fertility”. SL Rs. 7.8 million (US$ 63,000) Principal Investigator. Completed
- International Foundation for Science (IFS), Sweden, Competitive Research Grant -2013. Grant No: B/5367-1. “Effect of endocrine disruptor mancozeb on oviductal/fallopian tube physiology”. SL Rs. 1.5 million (US$ 12,000). Principal Investigator. Completed
