Ms Arlene D'Silva

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Dr Arlene D'Silva is a lecturer and Lead post-doctoral research fellow at UNSW, Sydney. She completed a double Masters degree at the University of Sydney and subsequently completed a PhD in 2020 at the Western Sydney University in reproductive health and human genetics. Her research focusses on interrogating biological mechanisms in paediatric neurogenetic diseases by harnessing latest innovations in genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic technologies. Dr D'Silva has over 10 years of experience in molecular biology and holds unique expertise in developing multi-omic and bioinformatics pipelines and translating research findings into clinical applications. Her strategic vision is to lead by fostering international collaborations in molecular characterisation of the neurobiology of neurodegenerative disorders to improve safety, optimise health outcomes and drive a paradigm shift towards personalised medicine for affected children.

E-mail

a.dsilva@unsw.edu.au

Journal articles | 2025

D'Silva A; Barnes J; Djafar J; Bhattacharya K; Yan J; Mohammad S; Bandodkar S; Johnson A; Tchan M; Miteff C; Elvidge KL; Dale RC; Farrar M, 2025, 'Characterizing circulating biomarkers for childhood dementia disorders: A scoping review of clinical trials', Neurotherapeutics, 22, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neurot.2025.e00546

Journal articles | 2024

Farrar TE; D'Silva A; Cardamone M; Bartley ML; Wong CH; Farrar MA, 2024, 'Clinician Understanding, Acceptance and utilization of Ketogenic diet therapy for epilepsy in Australia and New Zealand: An online survey', Epilepsy and Behavior Reports, 28, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ebr.2024.100711

Journal articles | 2023

Balaji L; Farrar MA; D’Silva AM; Kariyawasam DS, 2023, 'Decision-making and challenges within the evolving treatment algorithm in spinal muscular atrophy: a clinical perspective', Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 23, pp. 571 - 586, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14737175.2023.2218549

Journal articles | 2023

Davidson JE; Russell JS; Martinez NN; Mowat DR; Jones KJ; Kirk EP; Kariyawasam D; Farrar M; D’Silva A, 2023, 'The Carrier Frequency of Two SMN1 Genes in Parents of Symptomatic Children with SMA and the Significance of SMN1 Exon 8 in Carriers', Genes, 14, http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/genes14071403

Journal articles | 2023

Djafar JV; Smith NJ; Johnson AM; Bhattacharya K; Ardern-Holmes SL; Ellaway C; Dale RC; D'Silva AM; Kariyawasam DS; Grattan S; Kandula T; Lewis K; Mohammed SS; Farrar MA, 2023, 'Characterizing Common Phenotypes Across the Childhood Dementia Disorders: A Cross-sectional Study From Two Australian Centers', Pediatric Neurology, 149, pp. 75 - 83, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2023.09.006

Journal articles | 2023

D’Silva AM; Kariyawasam D; Venkat P; Mayoh C; Farrar MA, 2023, 'Identification of Novel CSF-Derived miRNAs in Treated Paediatric Onset Spinal Muscular Atrophy: An Exploratory Study', Pharmaceutics, 15, http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15010170

Journal articles | 2023

Kariyawasam DS; D'Silva AM; Sampaio H; Briggs N; Herbert K; Wiley V; Farrar MA, 2023, 'Newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy in Australia: a non-randomised cohort study', The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health, 7, pp. 159 - 170, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(22)00342-X

Journal articles | 2023

Logan GJ; Mietzsch M; Khandekar N; D'Silva A; Anderson D; Mandwie M; Hsi J; Nelson AR; Chipman P; Jackson J; Schofield P; Christ D; Goodnow CC; Reed JH; Farrar MA; McKenna R; Alexander IE, 2023, 'Structural and functional characterization of capsid binding by anti-AAV9 monoclonal antibodies from infants after SMA gene therapy', Molecular Therapy, 31, pp. 1979 - 1993, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ymthe.2023.03.032

Journal articles | 2022

D'Silva AM; Holland S; Kariyawasam D; Herbert K; Barclay P; Cairns A; MacLennan SC; Ryan MM; Sampaio H; Smith N; Woodcock IR; Yiu EM; Alexander IE; Farrar MA, 2022, 'Onasemnogene abeparvovec in spinal muscular atrophy: an Australian experience of safety and efficacy', Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, 9, pp. 339 - 350, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/acn3.51519

Journal articles | 2022

D'Silva AM; Kariyawasam DST; Best S; Wiley V; Farrar MA; Ravine A; Mowat D; Sampaio H; Alexander IE; Russell J; Jones K; Junek Z, 2022, 'Integrating newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy into health care systems: an Australian pilot programme', Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 64, pp. 625 - 632, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.15117

Journal articles | 2022

Kariyawasam D; D'Silva A; Farrar M; Shin-Yi Lin C, 2022, 'WE-149. Axonal excitability changes in children with spinal muscular atrophy treated with nusinersen', Clinical Neurophysiology, 141, pp. S73 - S74, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2022.07.193

Journal articles | 2022

Kariyawasam D; D’Silva A; Mowat D; Russell J; Sampaio H; Jones K; Taylor P; Farrar M, 2022, 'Incidence of Duchenne muscular dystrophy in the modern era; an Australian study', European Journal of Human Genetics, 30, pp. 1398 - 1404, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41431-022-01138-2

Journal articles | 2022

Kariyawasam DST; D'Silva AM; Herbert K; Howells J; Carey K; Kandula T; Farrar MA; Lin C, 2022, 'Axonal excitability changes in children with spinal muscular atrophy treated with nusinersen', Journal of Physiology, 600, pp. 95 - 109, http://dx.doi.org/10.1113/JP282249

Journal articles | 2021

Chen KA; Widger J; Teng A; Fitzgerald DA; D'Silva A; Farrar M, 2021, 'Real-world respiratory and bulbar comorbidities of SMA type 1 children treated with nusinersen: 2-Year single centre Australian experience', Paediatric Respiratory Reviews, 39, pp. 54 - 60, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.prrv.2020.09.002

Journal articles | 2021

Chou E; Lindeback R; D'Silva AM; Sampaio H; Neville K; Farrar MA, 2021, 'Growth and nutrition in pediatric neuromuscular disorders', Clinical Nutrition, 40, pp. 4341 - 4348, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2021.01.013

Journal articles | 2021

Kariyawasam D; D'silva A; Howells J; Herbert K; Geelan-Small P; Lin CSY; Farrar MA, 2021, 'Motor unit changes in children with symptomatic spinal muscular atrophy treated with nusinersen', Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 92, pp. 78 - 85, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jnnp-2020-324254

Journal articles | 2021

Kariyawasam DST; D'Silva AM; Vetsch J; Wakefield CE; Wiley V; Farrar MA, 2021, '“We needed this”: perspectives of parents and healthcare professionals involved in a pilot newborn screening program for spinal muscular atrophy', EClinicalMedicine, 33, pp. 100742, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.100742

Journal articles | 2020

D'Silva A; Farrar MA, 2020, 'Personalized medicine for children with spinal muscular atrophy: Toward the holy grail', Muscle and Nerve, 62, pp. 425 - 426, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mus.27030

Journal articles | 2020

D'Silva AM; Hyett JA; Coorssen JR, 2020, 'First Trimester Protein Biomarkers for Risk of Spontaneous Preterm Birth: Identifying a Critical Need for More Rigorous Approaches to Biomarker Identification and Validation', Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy, 47, pp. 497 - 506, http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000504975

Journal articles | 2020

Kariyawasam DST; D’Silva A; Herbert K; Lin CSY; Geelan-Small P; Farrar MA, 2020, '7. Motor unit changes in children with spinal muscular atrophy treated with nusinersen', Clinical Neurophysiology, 131, pp. e3 - e4, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2019.11.040

Journal articles | 2020

Wan HWY; Carey KA; D'Silva A; Vucic S; Kiernan MC; Kasparian NA; Farrar MA, 2020, 'Health, wellbeing and lived experiences of adults with SMA: A scoping systematic review', Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, 15, pp. 70, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13023-020-1339-3

Journal articles | 2019

Kariyawasam DST; D’silva A; Lin C; Ryan MM; Farrar MA; D'Silva A, 2019, 'Biomarkers and the development of a personalized medicine approach in spinal muscular atrophy', Frontiers in Neurology, 10, pp. 898, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2019.00898

Journal articles | 2019

Wan HWY; Carey KA; D'Silva A; Kasparian NA; Farrar MA, 2019, '"Getting ready for the adult world": How adults with spinal muscular atrophy perceive and experience healthcare, transition and well-being', Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, 14, pp. 74, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13023-019-1052-2

Journal articles | 2018

D'Silva AM; Hyett JA; Coorssen JR, 2018, 'Proteomic analysis of first trimester maternal serum to identify candidate biomarkers potentially predictive of spontaneous preterm birth', Journal of Proteomics, 178, pp. 31 - 42, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jprot.2018.02.002

Journal articles | 2017

D'Silva A; Fyfe R; Hyett J, 2017, 'First trimester prediction and prevention of adverse pregnancy outcomes related to poor placentation', Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 29, pp. 367 - 374, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/GCO.0000000000000420

Journal articles | 2017

D'Silva AM; Hyett JA; Coorssen JR, 2017, 'A routine 'top-down' approach to analysis of the human serum proteome', Proteomes, 5, http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/proteomes5020013

Journal articles | 2014

Sabri A; Lai D; D'Silva A; Seeho S; Kaur J; Ng C; Hyett J, 2014, 'Differential placental gene expression in term pregnancies affected by fetal growth restriction and macrosomia', Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy, 36, pp. 173 - 180, http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000360535
Conference Papers | 2024

Farrar T; D'Silva A; Cardamone M; Bartley M; Wong C; Farrar M, 2024, '2959 Clinician understanding, acceptance and utilization of ketogenic diet therapy for epilepsy in Australia and New Zealand: a cross-sectional cohort study', in Poster Abstracts, BMJ Publishing Group Ltd, pp. A5.3 - A5, presented at ANZAN Annual Scientific Meeting 2024 Abstracts, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjno-2024-anzan.13

Preprints |

D'Silva AM; Sampaio H; Kariyawasam DST; Mowat D; Russell J; Junek Z; Jones KJ; Alexander IE; Best S; Wiley V; Farrar MA, Integrating a Pilot Newborn Screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy Into the Australian Public Healthcare System, http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3814778

Preprints |

Kariyawasam DST; D'Silva AM; Vetsch J; Wakefield C; Wiley V; Farrar MA, <i>'We Needed This'</i>: Perspectives of Parents and Healthcare Professionals Involved in a Pilot Newborn Screening Program for Spinal Muscular Atrophy, http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3682109

My Research Supervision

PhD

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