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Dr Rasika Samarasinghe

STAFF PROFILE

Position

Lecturer

Faculty

Faculty of Health

Department

School of Medicine

Campus

Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus

Qualifications

Graduate Certificate of Higher Education Learning and Teaching, Deakin University, 2019
Doctor of Philosophy, Deakin University, 2014

Biography

Dr Samarasinghe completed her PhD in Medicine in 2014 at Deakin University and joined Prof. David Ashley's laboratory as a postdoctoral research fellow in 2015, where her work involved understanding epigenetic mechanisms regulated in major diseases such as cancers and degenerative disorders and to identify novel targets and therapies. Her work contributed to the initiation of a Victoria based clinical trial on aggressive childhood brain cancers, which used a new combination of chemo and epigenetic drugs as alternative therapy options. In 2018, she joined the School of Medicine as an academic and established her laboratory, Translational Epigenomic Research and Therapeutics.

Her group investigates how the epigenome regulates mechanisms in diseases such as childhood and adult cancers, mental health and degenerative disorders. Using different molecular and genome based technologies together with 3D cell culturing, stem cells and organoid techniques, her lab aims to understand these genetic and epigenetic changes in diseases, with a view of identifying novel targets for diagnosis and therapeutics.

Read more on Rasika's profile

Research interests

Epigenetic mechanisms and therapeutics

Cancer, mental health and degenerative disorders

Nanomedicine

Affiliations

Australian Epigenetic Alliance (from 2020)

Inflammation Research Association (from 2010)

American Association for the Advancement of Science (from 2010)

Golden Key International Honour Society (from 2008)

Teaching interests

Genomics

Medical Biotechnology

Immunology

Nanomedicine

Pharmacology

Units taught

HMM102: Principles of Gene and Genomic Technology, Unit Chair: 2018- current

HMM103: Cell Technology, Unit chair: 2018 - curent

Guest lecturer:

HMM101: Introduction to Medical Biotechnology

HMM202: Molecular Diagnostics

HMM302: Innovation in Medical Biotechnology

HMM301: Priciples of Pharmacology

HBS400: Research Methods

Knowledge areas

Epigenetics, Cancer, Bone and Inflammatory disorders, Mental health, Drug and Cell therapy

Conferences

  • Lorne Cancer Conference, Lorne, 2021
  • Childhoo cancer symposium, Melbourne, 2019, 2020, 2021.
  • 3rd Australian Cancer & Metabolism Meeting, Sydney, 2019
  • 14th Asian Society for Neuro-Oncology (ASNO) Meeting, Osaka, Japan, 2017.
  • 10th COGNO Annual Scientific Meeting: Tailoring Therapies for Brain Tumours: Challenges and Opportunities, Melbourne, Australia, 2017.
  • 13th Asian Society for Neuro-Oncology Meeting/ 9th COGNO Annual Scientific Meeting, Sydney, Australia, 2016.
  • Barwon Health Research Week, Geelong, Australia, 2015.
  • Weizmann symposium – Future directions in cancer biology & targeted therapeutics, Melbourne, Australia, 2015.
  • 17th International Inflammation Research Association Conference, New York, USA, 2012.
  • 3rd Sydney International Nanomedicine Conference, Sydney, Australia, 2012.
  • 2nd Sydney International Nanomedicince conference, Sydney, Australia, 2011.

Awards

  • Best ECR research contribution, Cancer Metabolism (Sydney, 2019)
  • COGNO-Bristol-Myers Squibb Young Investigator Award nominee (Brisbane, 2017)
  • Scientist Prize – Most Outstanding Research Presentation - Barwon Health Research Week, Geelong (2015)
  • Early Career Researcher - Best Top 5 presentations - Weizmann symposium – Future directions in cancer biology & targeted therapeutics, Melbourne (2015)
  • Publication Scholarship - Deakin University (2013)
  • Best PhD poster presentation - 17th International Inflammation Research Association Conference, New York, USA (2012)
  • Best 3rd/4th year PhD oral presenter - Institute for Frontier Materials (IFM), Annual Research Conference (2012)
  • Best 1st year PhD oral presenter, Institute for Frontier Materials (IFM), Annual Research Conference (2009)

Publications

Filter by

2023

Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein and bone health: data from a population-based sample of men

J Cleminson, J Pasco, C Bortolasci, K Holloway-Kew, J Hodge, K Anderson, M Kotowicz, R Samarasinghe, L Williams

(2023), Vol. 34, pp. 309-317, Osteoporosis International, Berlin, Germany, C1

journal article

Use of antipsychotic medication and its relationship with bone mineral density: A population-based study of men and women

B Azimi Manavi, A Stuart, J Pasco, J Hodge, R Samarasinghe, D Weerasinghe, L Williams

(2023), Vol. 13, Frontiers in Psychiatry, C1

journal article

Antipsychotic-induced bone loss: the role of dopamine, serotonin and adrenergic receptor signalling

D Weerasinghe, Jason Hodge, Julie Pasco, Rasika Samarasinghe, Behnaz Azimi Manavi, Lana Williams

(2023), Vol. 11, pp. 1-16, Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, Lausanne, Switzerland, C1

journal article

Antipsychotic medication use in association with quantitative heel ultrasound (QUS)

B Azimi Manavi, M Mohebbi, A Stuart, J Pasco, J Hodge, D Weerasinghe, R Samarasinghe, L Williams

(2023), Vol. 18, pp. 1-4, Bone Reports, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1

journal article
2022

Triple-negative breast cancer brain metastasis: An update on druggable targets, current clinical trials, and future treatment options

M Nakhjavani, R Samarasinghe, S Shigdar

(2022), Vol. 27, pp. 1298-1314, Drug Discovery Today, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1

journal article

Self-assembled peptide habitats to model tumor metastasis

Noora Al Balushi, Mitchell Boyd-Moss, Rasika Samarasinghe, Aaqil Rifai, Stephanie Franks, Kate Firipis, Benjamin Long, Ian Darby, David Nisbet, Dodie Pouniotis, Richard Williams

(2022), Vol. 8, pp. 1-16, Gels, Basel, Switzerland, C1

journal article

Zebrafish Models of Paediatric Brain Tumours

F Basheer, P Dhar, R Samarasinghe

(2022), Vol. 23, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Switzerland, C1

journal article
2021

Anticonvulsant use and bone health in a population-based study of men and women: cross-sectional data from the Geelong Osteoporosis Study

V Chandrasekaran, J Pasco, A Stuart, S Brennan-Olsen, M Berk, J Hodge, R Samarasinghe, L Williams

(2021), Vol. 22, BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, England, C1

journal article

Augmented reality in medical education: students' experiences and learning outcomes

P Dhar, T Rocks, R Samarasinghe, G Stephenson, C Smith

(2021), Vol. 26, Medical Education Online, United States, C1

journal article

Anticonvulsant use and fracture: A case-control study

V Chandrasekaran, A Stuart, J Pasco, S Brennan-Olsen, M Berk, J Hodge, R Samarasinghe, L Williams

(2021), Vol. 21, pp. 422-428, Journal of Musculoskeletal Neuronal Interactions, Kifissia, Greece, C1

journal article
2020

Antibodies, nanobodies, or aptamers-which is best for deciphering the proteomes of non-model species?

P Dhar, R Samarasinghe, S Shigdar

(2020), Vol. 21, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Switzerland, C1

journal article

Non-invasive delivery of therapeutics into the brain: The potential of aptamers for targeted delivery

B Bukari, R Samarasinghe, J Noibanchong, S Shigdar

(2020), Vol. 8, Biomedicines, Switzerland, C1

journal article

Dietary tryptophan and bone health: a cross-sectional, population-based study

J Cleminson, A Stuart, J Pasco, J Hodge, M Berk, R Samarasinghe, L Williams

(2020), Vol. 15, Archives of Osteoporosis, England, C1

journal article
2019

Phenotyping neurons activated in the mouse brain during restoration of salt debt

C Smith, J Cross, I Eraslan, A Attawar, S Ch'ng, P Dhar, R Samarasinghe, L Gray, A Lawrence

(2019), Vol. 101, Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy, Netherlands, C1

journal article
2017

Multimodal nanomedicine strategies for targeting cancer cells as well as cancer stem cell signalling mechanisms

J Kanwar, R Samarasinghe, S Kamalapuram, R Kanwar

(2017), Vol. 16, pp. 1688-1695, Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry, Netherlands, C1

journal article
2015

Role of nanomedicine in arthritic disorders

R Samarasinghe, R Samarasinghe, R Kanwar, R Kanwar, J Kanwar, J Kanwar

(2015), Vol. 1, pp. 281-311, NanoBioMedicine Vol. 1: Nanomedicine, Houston, Tex., B1-1

book chapter

Cissus quadrangularis inhibits IL-1β induced inflammatory responses on chondrocytes and alleviates bone deterioration in osteotomized rats via p38 MAPK signaling

J Kanwar, R Samarasinghe, K Kumar, R Arya, S Sharma, S Zhou, S Sasidharan, R Kanwar

(2015), Vol. 9, pp. 2927-2940, Drug Design, Development and Therapy, [Auckland, N.Z.], C1

journal article
2014

Antiarthritic and chondroprotective activity of Lakshadi Guggul in novel alginate-enclosed chitosan calcium phosphate nanocarriers

R Samarasinghe, R Kanwar, K Kumar, J Kanwar

(2014), Vol. 9, pp. 819-837, Nanomedicine, London, England, C1

journal article

The effect of oral administration of iron saturated-bovine lactoferrin encapsulated chitosan-nanocarriers on osteoarthritis

R Samarasinghe, R Kanwar, J Kanwar

(2014), Vol. 35, pp. 7522-7534, Biomaterials, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1

journal article
2012

Nanotechnology based platforms for survivin targeted drug discovery

R Samarasinghe, R Samarasinghe, J Gibbons, J Gibbons, R Kanwar, R Kanwar, J Kanwar, J Kanwar

(2012), Vol. 7, pp. 1083-1092, Expert opinion on drug discovery, London, England, C1

journal article

The role of nanomedicine in cell based therapeutics in cancer and inflammation.

R Samarasinghe, R Samarasinghe, R Kanwar, R Kanwar, J Kanwar, J Kanwar

(2012), Vol. 1, pp. 133-144, International journal of molecular and cellular medicine, Babol, Iran, C1-1

journal article

Nano-lactoferrin in diagnostic, imaging and targeted delivery for cancer and infectious diseases

J Kanwar, J Kanwar, R Samarasinghe, R Samarasinghe, R Sehgal, R Sehgal, R Kanwar, R Kanwar

(2012), Vol. 4, pp. 31-42, Journal of cancer science & therapy, Westlake, Calif., C1-1

journal article

Funded Projects at Deakin

Other Public Sector Funding

Antipsychotic use and osteoporotic fracture risk.

Prof Lana Williams, Prof Julie Pasco, Dr Jason Hodge, Dr Rasika Samarasinghe, Ms Dona Kavindi Madushani Weerasinghe

International Education Resilience Fund

  • 2023: $9,000

Supervisions

Principal Supervisor
2022

Jake Erich William Mazur

Thesis entitled: Natural therapeutics coupled with nanotechnology, advancing Glioblastoma Multiforme treatment efficacy.

MAppSc (Medicine) (High cost), School of Medicine

Tulika Basak

Thesis entitled: Targeting iron overload: A potential approach towards glioblastoma therapy

Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine), School of Medicine

2021

Naznin Akhtar

Thesis entitled: Theranostic Applications of Zinc Ferrite Nanoparticles for Colorectal Cancer

Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine), School of Medicine

Associate Supervisor
2021

Vinoomika Chandrasekaran

Thesis entitled: Bipolar Disorder, Associated Treatments and Bone Health

Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine), School of Medicine