Lecturer
Dr Chamini Perera
PhD in Physiology and Pharmacology (UNSW), 2016
BVSc (Hons), 2008
Medicine & Health
School of Clinical Medicine
I am a Researcher/Lecturer working with the Pancreatic Research Group, South West Sydney Clinical Campuses/Ingham Institute, Liverpool. My current research focuses on early detection of pancreatic cancer through identification of possible biomarkers. This will be achieved by using in-vitro and in-vivo models of pancreatic cancer as well as 'omic' techniques to identify potential factors in small extracellular vesicles derived from pancreatic cancer and stellate cells. Once identified, the presence of lead candidate biomarkers will be tested in patients with new-onset diabetes/pancreatic cancer-related diabetes, which is now considered to be a group at 'high risk' of developing pancreatic cancer.
Prior to joining the field of Pancreatic Research, I worked in the field of Neuroscience, where I completed my PhD in the field of Neuropathic pain in 2016 from School of Medical Sciences, UNSW Medicine. During my PhD, I investigated immune-modulatory approaches for the treatment of neuropathic pain in animal models. Then, in my first post-doctoral years, I worked in the Sensori-Motor Physiology and Therapeutics (SMPT) group in the Translational Neuroscience Facility, where I aimed to identify a potential neuroprotective compound to reduce excitotoxicity following traumatic brain injury.
Phone
0287389031
E-mail
Location
South West Sydney Clinical Campuses/Ingham Institute
Level 4, 1 Campbell Street
Liverpool, 2170
NSW, Australia
- Publications
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
NHMRC Ideas Grant (2020-2024) - Pancreatic Cancer Related Diabetes (PCRD) - Novel role of Pancreatic Stellate Cells
CONCERT seed grant (2020-2022) - Pancreatic cancer related diabetes-Elucidating its mechanism to enable diagnosis and improved treatment of pancreatic cancer
PanKind Early detection innovation grant (2022) - Deciphering the Exosomal RNA Cargo in Pancreatic Cancer-related diabetes using Transcriptmonics: A Novel Approach for Early Detection of pancreatic cancer
- South West Sydney Clinical School ECR Award (2021)
- Australian postgraduate award (2011-2015)
- Australasian neuroscience society student travel award (2015)
- Paper of the month award for March, 2015 from school of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales
- Spinal cord injury network travel grant in memory of Rosalind Nicholson (2015)
- Travel grant from school of Medical sciences, UNSW Australia (2014)
- Travel grant from International association for the study of pain (2014)
- Australian neuroscience society student travel award (2014)
- PRSS conference travel funds from graduate research school, UNSW Australia (2013)
- Australian neuroscience society student travel award (2013)
- Astron scholarship for best performance in 1st, 2nd and 3rd BVSc in 2006
I. Effects of exosomes derived from pancreatic stellate and cancer cells on islet cell dysfunction
II. Effects of exosomes derived from pancreatic stellate and cancer cells on insulin signalling
III. Effects of High Fructose Diet on impaired glucose tolerance/pre-diabetes and cancer progression in transgenic mouse model of pancreatic cancer
IV. Identification of protein, RNA, lipid and metabolic biomarkers in extracellular vesicular cargo using 'omic' techniques
V. Identification of possible candidate biomarkers of pancreatic cancer
I. Founder - Ingham Institute Public Speaking Club
II. Deputy Chair - Ingham Institute Postdoc Association
III. Committee member - MedECAN
IV. Member of Gastroenterological Society of Australia
V. Member of American Pancreatic Association
VI. Member of American Gastroenterological Association
VII. Member of International Society of Extracellular Vesicles
VIII. Member of Australian Pancreatic Club
IX. Mentor - UNSW Alumni Career Discovery Mentoring Program
My Research Supervision
Honours and PhD students
My Teaching
Currently, I facilitate Medicine Phase 1 Scenario Groups (Ageing & Ending).
I have experience in teaching Anatomy, Physiology, Immunology, Microbiology and Biology for Medical, Medical Science and Science students.