Biology
Dr. Thusitha Gajanayake
Dr. Thusitha Gajanayake
Dr. Thusitha Gajanayake received his Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (BVSc) degree at the University of Peradeniya in 2000. He received Master of Science (MSc) degree in Biochemistry at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland in 2005, followed by his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biology from the University of Bern, Switzerland in 2009.
He joined the Faculty of Science, National University of Ireland as a Postdoctoral Scientist. In 2010, Then he moved to the University Hospital of Bern to become a scientist of the hand transplant research group at the Department of Clinical Research. His innovation of local immunosuppression method using nanotechnology and hydrogel systems has been recognized internationally as an outstanding research work. He was the recipient of the 2014 Swiss Transplant Research Award for Excellence in Transplantation. He had many research publications in highly ranked journals including Science.
He joined the Faculty of Science, National University of Ireland as a Postdoctoral Scientist. In 2010, Then he moved to the University Hospital of Bern to become a scientist of the hand transplant research group at the Department of Clinical Research. His innovation of local immunosuppression method using nanotechnology and hydrogel systems has been recognized internationally as an outstanding research work. He was the recipient of the 2014 Swiss Transplant Research Award for Excellence in Transplantation. He had many research publications in highly ranked journals including Science.
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QUALIFICATIONS
BVSc, 2000 MSc (Fribourg), 2005 PhD (Bern), 2009 Teacher Reparation Program, 2002 Cert. Secondary Learning – Open University, Milton Keynes, UK in 2018 EMPLOYMENT Visiting Lecturer IBMBB, Colombo University Medical advisor Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Sri Lanka Lecturer Insel Hospital University hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland National University of Ireland (NUIM), Maynooth Ireland Lecturer University of Peradeniya Peradeniya, Sri Lanka Lecturer Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, Belihuloya, Sri Lanka READ MORE ABOUT ME Medical miracles Research contribution My views on Biotechnology Success of Swiss Research |
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2015 - Now Tutor at ICPT. Teaching full time Edexcel and Cambridge Biology for local and foreign students. 2011 -2014 Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. Subject taught: Immunology, large-group tutoring for medical students, biomedical students and medical professional oriented students. Supervision of master students and high school students (Maturity work) 2012: Tutoring Ms. Sabrina Bosshard and Ms. Theresa Brentrup project was featured as the best maturity work project in 2012 in Switzerland http://www.scnat.ch/downloads/12BossharSabrina-BrentrupTheresa.pdf 2009 - 2010 Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Science, National University of Ireland Maynooth, Maynooth, Ireland Subject taught: Immunology, One-on-one instruction, large-group tutoring, supervision of computer-based lab practical, grading and compilation of course grades, proctoring of examinations 2005 - 2009 Department of Clinical research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland: Managed group projects of graduate students, supervised use of analytical and manufacturing equipment 2003 - 2005 Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland: Subject taught: Physiology, managed group projects for graduate students 2002 - 2003 Department of Veterinary Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine & Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Subject taught: Biochemistry, large-group tutoring and supervision of practical classes, Exam paper preparation and marking 2001 - 2002 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, Belihuloya, Sri Lanka. Subject taught: Biochemistry, large-group tutoring and supervision of practical classes, exam paper preparation and marking |
GRANTS, AWARDS AND MEMBERSHIPS
Swiss Transplantation Research Award, 2015 – 2nd place American Society for Surgery of Hand (ASSH), USD 20 000. 2012 University of Bern MVUB grant CHF 3800.00, 2012 Gottfried und Julia Bangerter-Ryhner-Foundation Grant CHF 5000.00, 2012 Olga Mayenfisch Grant/Zurich CHF 20 000.00, 2011 The Company of Biologist/UK travelling fellowship award, 2010 Swiss Laboratory Animal Science Association (SGV) travel grant award, 2010 RISET/Belgium travel grant award, 2010 Swiss Federal Scholarship for Foreign Students award, 2003 Member of Swiss Laboratory Animal Science Association Member of Swiss Society for Allergology and Immunology (SSAI) Member of the International Complement Society |
PUBLICATIONS
Original papers
Selected abstracts
International Speeches
Original papers
- Gajanayake, T. Olariu, R., Leclère, F., Dhayani, A., Yang, Z., Bongoni, A., Banz, Y., Constantinescu, M., Karp, J., Vemula, V., Rieben, R., Vögelin, E. A single localized dose of enzyme-responsive self-assembled hydrogel improves long-term survival of a vascularized composite allograft. Science (Trans Med) 2014 accepted
- Gajanayake, T., Siednienko, J., Ahmed, S., Miggin, S,. Extracellular ATP suppress TLR3-induced CCL5/RANTES production in synoviocytes from rheumatoid arthritis patients through Epac dependent signaling pathway. In submission
- Gupta, S., Maratha, A., Siednienko, J., Natarajan, A., Gajanayake, T., Hoashi, S,. and Miggin, S., Analysis of serum cytokines in patients with Type 2 Diabetes and associated complications. Diabetes, Submitted
- Müller S, Constantinescu M, Kiermeir D, Gajanayake T, Vollbach F, Meoli M, Jenni H, Rieben R, Banic A, Vögelin E. Assessment of ischemia/reperfusion injury of amputated porcine limbs after preservation by extracorporeal circulation: The Journal of surgical research, 2012
- Wu, Z., Xiong, Y., Gajanayake, T., Ming, X.F., Yang, Z., p38mapk is required for glucosamine-induced endothelial nitric oxide synthase uncoupling and plasminogen-activator inhibitor expression. Circulation Journal, 2012
- Kamat P, Juon B, Jossen B, Matozan K, Gajanayake T, Rieben R, Vögelin E. Inflammatory and Endothelial Cell Activation Markers of Tourniquet-Induced Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Upper Limb Surgery. Journal of Inflammation, 2012
- Banz, Y., Hess, O.M., Meier, P., Korchagina, E.Y., Gordeeva, E.A., Robson, S.C., Gajanayake, T., Csizmadia, E., Mettler, D., Haeberli, A., et al. 2012. Evaluation of multimeric tyrosine-O-sulfate as a cytoprotectant in an in vivo model of acute myocardial infarction in pigs. Cardiology 121:59-70.
- Siednienko, J., Gajanayake, T., Fitzgerald, K.A., Moynagh, P., and Miggin, S.M. 2011. Absence of MyD88 results in enhanced TLR3-dependent phosphorylation of IRF3 and increased IFN-beta and RANTES production. Journal of Immunology 186:2514-2522.
- Banz, Y., Gajanayake, T., Matozan, K., Yang, Z., and Rieben, R. 2009. Dextran sulfate modulates MAP kinase signaling and reduces endothelial injury in a rat aortic clamping model. Journal of vascular surgery : official publication, the Society for Vascular Surgery [and] International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery, North American Chapter 50:161-170.
- Spirig, R., Gajanayake, T., Korsgren, O., Nilsson, B., and Rieben, R. 2008. Low molecular weight dextran sulfate as complement inhibitor and cytoprotectant in solid organ and islet transplantation. Mol Immunol 45:4084-4094.
- Gajanayake, T., Sawitzki, B., Matozan, K., Korchagina, E.Y., Lehmann, M., Volk, H.D., and Rieben, R. 2008. Dextran sulfate facilitates anti-CD4 mAb-induced long-term rat cardiac allograft survival after prolonged cold ischemia. American journal of transplantation : official journal of the American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons 8:1151-1162.
- Zhu, S., Viswambharan, H., Gajanayake, T., Ming, X.F., and Yang, Z. 2005. Sirolimus increases tissue factor expression but not activity in cultured human vascular smooth muscle cells. BMC Cardiovasc Disord 5:22.
Selected abstracts
- Gajanayake T, Prolonged graft survival with a single injection of FK506 encapsulated hydrogel drug delivery system in allogeneic limb transplantation in rats 51st Annual Meeting of the German Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (DGPW) December 2, 2013
- Gputa S, Maratha A, Natarajan A, Gajanayake T, Siednienko J, Hoashi S and Miggin S. Cytokine profiling in type 2 diabetes. Society for Endocrinology BES 2011
11–14 April 2011, Birmingham, UK
- Gajanayake T, Müller S, Constantinescu M, Kiermeir D, Vollbach F, Meoli M, Jenni H, Rieben R, Banic A, Vögelin E. Minimization of ischemia/reperfusion-mediated innate immune activation in limb transplantation through extracorporeal perfusion: submitted to American Society for Reconstructive Transplantation. 18-20 November in Chicago, USA.
- Gajanayake T, Siednienko J, Miggin S. TLR3 signaling in synoviocytes is negatively regulated by extracellular ATP through inhibition of NF-kB. Tri-Society Annual Conference: Lisbon, Portugal 2009
- Gajanayake T, Banz Y, Matozan K, Barandier C, Yang Z, Rieben R. Dextran sulfate reduces ischemia/reperfusion injury by modulating the activation of complement and the MAPK pathway: Molecular Immunology: Volume 45, Issues 16, Pages 4110-4111, 2008
- Gajanayake T, Sawitzki B, Matozan K, Korchagina EY, Lehmann M, Volk HD, Rieben R. Dextran sulfate attenuates cold ischemia-induced innate immunity and facilitates RIB 5/2-induce prolonged allograft survival. 8th International Conference on New Trends in Immunosuppression and Immunotherapy. 2008, Berlin, Germany.
- Gajanayake T, Matozan K, Volk HD, Lehmann M, Cuturi MC, Rieben R. Low molecular weight dextran sulfate facilitates anti CD4-induced tolerance after prolonged cold ischemia in cardiac transplantation. Annual congress for Allergology and Immunology 2007. Swiss Medical Weekly. Vol 137, 2007
- Gajanayake T, Matozan K, Sawitzki B, Lehmann M, Cuturi MC, Volk HD, Rieben R. Low molecular weight dextran sulfate site-specifically attenuates complement activation induced by ischemia/reperfusion and facilitates tolerance induction in allotransplantation. Molecular Immunology, Volume 44, Issue 16, Page 3946, 2007
- Gajanayake T, Banz Y, Matozan K, Barandier C, Yang Z, Rieben R. Complement and MAPKs mediated inflammatory responses are reduced by dextran sulfate during ischemia/reperfusion injury: Molecular Immunology: Volume 44, Issues 1-3, Pages 173-17, 2007
- Banz Y, Matozan K, Korchagina EY, Bovin NV, Gajanayake T, Barandier C Z. Yang Z, Rieben R. Dextran sulfate and multimeric tyrosine sulfate reduce ischemia/reperfusion injury in a rat aortic clamping model, in part through modulation of MAP kinases. Swiss Society of Cardiology Basel, 7-9 June 2006. Kardiovasculäre Medizin. Vol. 9: Suppl 12, 2006
- Ming X, Sartori C, Gajanayake T, Scherrer U, Yang Z. Enhanced vascular arginase II activity is involved in endothelial dysfunction in insulin-resistant mice fed a high-fat diet, Swiss Society of Cardiology Basel, 7-9 June 2006. Kardiovasculäre Medizin. Vol. 9: Suppl 12, 2006
- Gajanayake T, Banz Y, Matozan K, Barandier C, Yang Z, Rieben R. Dextran sulfate reduces ischemia/reperfusion injury in a rat aortic clamping model through modulating activation of MAPKs and complement. 11th cardiovascular Biology and Clinical Implication Meting 6-8, October 2005, Thun. Kardiovasculäre Medizin. Vol. 8: Suppl 10, 2005
- Viswambharan H, Zaugg C, Gajanayake T, Albrecht U, Yang Z. Endothelial function is impaired in circardian rhythmic disturbances. Swiss Society of Cardiology. 15-16 June 2005 Lausanne. Kardiovasculäre Medizin. Vol. 8: Suppl 08 . 2005
International Speeches
- Locally Injected FK506-Laden Hydrogel Therapy Prolongs Rat Hind Limb Allograft Survival. 10th International Conference on New Trends in Immunosuppression and Immunotherapy, 11 March 2013, Barcelona, Spain
- Minimization of ischemia/reperfusion-mediated innate immune activation in limb transplantation through extracorporeal perfusion: submitted to American Society for Reconstructive Transplantation. November 2010, Chicago, USA
- TLR3 signaling in synoviocytes is negatively regulated by extracellular ATP through inhibition of NF-kB. Tri-Society Annual Conference: 2009 Lisbon, Portugal
- Dextran sulfate attenuates cold ischemia-induced innate immunity and facilitates RIB 5/2-induce prolonged allograft survival. 8th International Conference on New Trends in Immunosuppression and Immunotherapy. 2008, Berlin, Germany
- Low molecular weight dextran sulfate site-specifically attenuates complement activation induced by ischemia/reperfusion and facilitates tolerance induction in allotransplantation. XII International Complement Workshop, Basel, Switzerland
- Consortium Meeting. Reprogramming the Immune System for the Establishment of Tolerance (RISET), Brussels, Belgium
- WP2 Meeting. Reprogramming the Immune System for the Establishment of Tolerance (RISET), Paris, France
- Dextran sulfate and multimeric tyrosine sulfate reduce ischemia/reperfusion injury in a rat aortic clamping model, in part through modulation of MAP kinases. Swiss Society of Cardiology Basel, 7-9 June 2006. Switzerland
- Dextran sulfate reduces ischemia/reperfusion injury in a rat aortic clamping model through modulating activation of MAPKs and complement. 11th cardiovascular Biology and Clinical Implication Meting 6-8, October 2005, Thun. Switzerland