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Dr Chamini Perera

Dr Chamini Perera

Senior Lecturer

PhD in Physiology and Pharmacology (UNSW), 2016

BVSc (Hons), 2008

Medicine & Health
School of Clinical Medicine

I am a Senior 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
h.c.perera@unsw.edu.au
Location
South West Sydney Clinical Campuses/Ingham Institute Level 4, 1 Campbell Street Liverpool, 2170 NSW, Australia
  • Book Chapters | 2023
    Pang T; Xu Z; Perera C; Apte MV, 2023, 'Tumor Microenvironment', in , Wiley, pp. 942 - 950, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9781119876007.ch123
    Book Chapters | 2023
    Pang T; Xu Z; Perera C; Apte MV, 2023, 'Tumor Microenvironment: Immune Cells and Immunosuppressive Functions of Carcinoma-associated Fibroblasts and Macrophages', in The Pancreas: an Integrated Textbook of Basic Science, Medicine, and Surgery, Fourth Edition, Wiley, pp. 942 - 950, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9781119876007.ch123
    Book Chapters | 2015
    Lees JG; Fivelman B; Duffy SS; Makker PGS; Perera CJ; Moalem-Taylor G, 2015, 'Cytokines in neuropathic pain and associated depression', in , pp. 51 - 66, http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000435932
  • Journal articles | 2024
    Perera CJ; Hosen SZ; Khan T; Fang H; Mekapogu AR; Xu Z; Falasca M; Chari ST; Wilson JS; Pirola R; Greening DW; Apte MV, 2024, 'Proteomic profiling of small extracellular vesicles derived from mouse pancreatic cancer and stellate cells: Role in pancreatic cancer', Proteomics, 24, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pmic.202300067
    Journal articles | 2023
    Binang HB; Perera CJ; Apte MV, 2023, 'Role of Pancreatic Tumour-Derived Exosomes and Their Cargo in Pancreatic Cancer-Related Diabetes', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24, pp. 10203, http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms241210203
    Journal articles | 2023
    Mekapogu AR; Xu Z; Pothula S; Perera C; Pang T; Hosen SMZ; Damalanka V; Janetka J; Goldstein D; Pirola R; Wilson J; Apte M, 2023, 'HGF/c-Met pathway inhibition combined with chemotherapy increases cytotoxic T-cell infiltration and inhibits pancreatic tumour growth and metastasis', Cancer Letters, 568, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216286
    Journal articles | 2023
    Sarkar R; Xu Z; Perera CJ; Apte MV, 2023, 'Emerging role of pancreatic stellate cell-derived extracellular vesicles in pancreatic cancer', Seminars in Cancer Biology, 93, pp. 114 - 122, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.semcancer.2023.05.007
    Journal articles | 2022
    Cederholm JME; Parley KE; Perera CJ; von Jonquieres G; Pinyon JL; Julien JP; Ryugo DK; Ryan AF; Housley GD, 2022, 'Noise-induced hearing loss vulnerability in type III intermediate filament peripherin gene knockout mice', Frontiers in Neurology, 13, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2022.962227
    Journal articles | 2022
    Channon LM; Tyma VM; Xu Z; Greening DW; Wilson JS; Perera CJ; Apte MV, 2022, 'Small extracellular vesicles (exosomes) and their cargo in pancreatic cancer: Key roles in the hallmarks of cancer', Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Reviews on Cancer, 1877, pp. 188728, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188728
    Journal articles | 2022
    Hosen SMZ; Uddin MN; Xu Z; Buckley BJ; Perera C; Pang TCY; Mekapogu AR; Moni MA; Notta F; Gallinger S; Pirola R; Wilson J; Ranson M; Goldstein D; Apte M, 2022, 'Metastatic phenotype and immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Key role of the urokinase plasminogen activator (PLAU)', Frontiers in Immunology, 13, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.1060957
    Journal articles | 2021
    Perera CJ; Falasca M; Chari ST; Greenfield JR; Xu Z; Pirola RC; Wilson JS; Apte MV, 2021, 'Role of pancreatic stellate cell-derived exosomes in pancreatic cancer-related diabetes: A novel hypothesis', Cancers, 13, pp. 5224, http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/cancers13205224
    Journal articles | 2020
    Housley DM; Pinyon JL; Von Jonquieres G; Perera CJ; Smout M; Liddell MJ; Jennings EA; Wilson D; Housley GD, 2020, 'Australian scorpion Hormurus waigiensis venom fractions show broad bioactivity through modulation of bio-impedance and cytosolic calcium', Biomolecules, 10, http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/biom10040617
    Journal articles | 2020
    Perera C; Xu Z; Mekapogu AR; Hosen SMZ; Pothula S; Greenfield J; Chari S; Goldstein D; Pirola R; Wilson J; Apte MV, 2020, '1133 PANCREATIC STELLATE CELL AND CANCER CELL DERIVED EXOSOMES IMPAIR BETA CELL FUNCTION: IMPLICATIONS FOR PANCREATIC CANCER RELATED DIABETES.', Gastroenterology, 158, pp. S - 221, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0016-5085(20)31245-2
    Journal articles | 2020
    Xu Z; Pang TCY; Liu AC; Pothula SP; Mekapogu AR; Perera CJ; Murakami T; Goldstein D; Pirola RC; Wilson JS; Apte MV, 2020, 'Targeting the HGF/c-MET pathway in advanced pancreatic cancer: a key element of treatment that limits primary tumour growth and eliminates metastasis', British Journal of Cancer, 122, pp. 1486 - 1495, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41416-020-0782-1
    Journal articles | 2019
    Duffy SS; Keating BA; Perera CJ; Lees JG; Tonkin RS; Makker PGS; Carrive P; Butovsky O; Moalem-Taylor G, 2019, 'Regulatory T cells and their derived cytokine, interleukin-35, reduce pain in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis', Journal of Neuroscience, 39, pp. 2326 - 2346, http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1815-18.2019
    Journal articles | 2018
    Duffy SS; Keating BA; Perera CJ; Moalem-Taylor G, 2018, 'The role of regulatory T cells in nervous system pathologies', Journal of Neuroscience Research, 96, pp. 951 - 968, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jnr.24073
    Journal articles | 2018
    Duffy SS; Lees JG; Perera CJ; Moalem-Taylor G, 2018, 'Managing neuropathic pain in multiple sclerosis: Pharmacological interventions', Medicinal Chemistry, 14, pp. 106 - 119, http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1573406413666170906122508
    Journal articles | 2018
    Tonkin RS; Bowles C; Perera CJ; Keating BA; Makker PGS; Duffy SS; Lees JG; Tran C; Don AS; Fath T; Liu L; O'Carroll SJ; Nicholson LFB; Green CR; Gorrie C; Moalem-Taylor G, 2018, 'Attenuation of mechanical pain hypersensitivity by treatment with Peptide5, a connexin-43 mimetic peptide, involves inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome in nerve-injured mice', Experimental Neurology, 300, pp. 1 - 12, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.expneurol.2017.10.016
    Journal articles | 2017
    Makker PGS; Duffy SS; Lees JG; Perera CJ; Tonkin RS; Butovsky O; Park SB; Goldstein D; Moalem-Taylor G, 2017, 'Characterisation of immune and neuroinflammatory changes associated with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy', PLoS ONE, 12, pp. e0170814, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0170814
    Journal articles | 2016
    Duffy SS; Perera CJ; Makker PGS; Lees JG; Carrive P; Moalem-Taylor G, 2016, 'Peripheral and central neuroinflammatory changes and pain behaviors in an animal model of multiple sclerosis', Frontiers in Immunology, 7, pp. 369, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2016.00369
    Journal articles | 2015
    Lees JG; Duffy SS; Perera CJ; Moalem-Taylor G; Perera C, 2015, 'Depletion of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells increases severity of mechanical allodynia and significantly alters systemic cytokine levels following peripheral nerve injury', Cytokine, 71, pp. 207 - 214, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cyto.2014.10.028
    Journal articles | 2015
    Perera CJ; Duffy SS; Lees JG; Kim CF; Cameron B; Apostolopoulos V; Moalem-Taylor G, 2015, 'Active immunization with myelin-derived altered peptide ligand reduces mechanical pain hypersensitivity following peripheral nerve injury', Journal of Neuroinflammation, 12, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12974-015-0253-4
    Journal articles | 2015
    Perera CJ; Lees JG; Duffy SS; Makker PGS; Fivelman B; Apostolopoulos V; Moalem-Taylor G; Perera C, 2015, 'Effects of active immunisation with myelin basic protein and myelin-derived altered peptide ligand on pain hypersensitivity and neuroinflammation', Journal of Neuroimmunology, 286, pp. 59 - 70, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jneuroim.2015.07.004
    Journal articles | 2013
    Tian DH; Perera CJ; Apostolopoulos V; Moalem-Taylor G, 2013, 'Effects of vaccination with altered peptide ligand on chronic pain in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an animal model of multiple sclerosis', Frontiers in Neurology, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2013.00168
    Journal articles | 2013
    Tian DH; Perera CJ; Moalem-Taylor G, 2013, 'Neuropathic pain in animal models of nervous system autoimmune diseases', Mediators of Inflammation, 2013, http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/298326
    Journal articles | 2012
    Austin P; Kim CF; Perera C; Moalem-Taylor G, 2012, 'Regulatory T cells attenuate neuropathic pain following peripheral nerve injury and experimental autoimmune neuritis', Pain, 153, pp. 1916 - 1931, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2012.06.005
  • Conference Abstracts | 2023
    Perera C; Greening D; Hosen SMZ; Mekapogu AR; Xu Z; Chari S; Falasca M; Wilson J; Pirola R; Apte M, 2023, 'Proteomic analysis of co-cultured human pancreatic stellate cells and cancer cell-derived exosome cargo: novel insights into signalling pathways in pancreatic cancer', in Pancreatology, Elsevier BV, Vol. 23, pp. e127 - e127, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pan.2023.06.729
    Conference Abstracts | 2023
    Sarkar R; Khan T; Binang H; Xu Z; Hosen SMZ; Mekapogu A; Hoehn K; Horada N; Pirola R; Wilson J; Perera C; Apte M, 2023, 'Pancreatic cancer related diabetes: impaired glucose tolerance and insulin signalling may drive progression of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasms (PanINs)', in Pancreatology, Elsevier BV, Vol. 23, pp. e143 - e143, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pan.2023.06.767
    Conference Papers | 2022
    Perera C; Hossain MJ; Mekapogu AR; Hosen SMZ; Rajan P; Xu Z; Greenfield J; Hoehn K; Horadagoda N; Chari S; Pirola R; Wilson J; Apte MV, 2022, 'Su1261: PANCREATIC CANCER-RELATED DIABETES: A HIGH FRUCTOSE DIET FED TO TRANSGENIC, KRASLSL-G12D/+; PDXCRE/+ (KC) MICE, IS ASSOCIATED WITH PANCREATIC STELLATE CELL ACTIVATION AND ACCELERATED CANCER PROGRESSION', in Gastroenterology, Elsevier BV, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0016-5085(22)61328-3
    Conference Abstracts | 2022
    Perera C; Hossain MJ; Mekapogu AR; Hosen SMZ; Xu Z; Greenfield J; Hoehn K; Horadagoda N; Pirola R; Wilson J; Apte M; HOSEN SM, 2022, 'Impaired glucose tolerance in transgenic KC mice is associated with pancreatic stellate cell activation and accelerated pancreatic cancer progression', in JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, WILEY, Vol. 37, pp. 32 - 32
    Conference Papers | 2021
    Hosen SMZ; Haar J; Xu Z; Perera C; Buckley BJ; Mekapogu AR; Pang TC; Pothula S; Ranson M; Goldstein D; Pirola R; Wilson J; Apte M, 2021, 'Targeting the urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) pathway inhibits pancreatic cancer progression', in Pancreatology, Elsevier BV, pp. S73 - S73, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pan.2021.05.196
    Conference Papers | 2021
    Mekapogu A; Xu Z; Pothula S; Perera C; Pang T; Hosen SMS; Damalanka V; Mahoney V; Janekta J; Klampfer L; Goldstein D; Pirola R; Wilson J; Apte M; Perera C, 2021, 'Hepatocyte growth factor/c-MET inhibition plus chemotherapy improves tumor immunity and eliminates metastasis in pancreatic cancer', Virtual, presented at Australian Gastroenterology Week, Virtual, 10 August 2021
    Conference Papers | 2021
    Mekapogu AR; Xu Z; Pothula S; Perera C; Pang T; Hosen SMZ; Damalanka VC; Mahoney M; Janetka JW; Klampfer L; Goldstein D; Pirola R; Wilson J; Apte MV, 2021, '184 HEPATOCYTE GROWTH FACTOR/ C-MET PATHWAY INHIBITION COMBINED WITH CHEMOTHERAPY RETARDS PRECURSOR PANINS AND POTENTIATES LOCAL IMMUNITY IN A TRANSGENIC MODEL OF EARLY PANCREATIC CANCER', in Gastroenterology, Elsevier BV, pp. S - 45, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0016-5085(21)00855-6
    Conference Papers | 2020
    Mekapogu A; Xu Z; Pothula S; Perera C; Pang T; Hosen Z; Janetka J; Damalanka V; Mahoney M; Klampfer L; Goldstein D; Pirola R; Wilson J; Apte M, 2020, 'Inhibition of both the ligand and receptor of the hepatocyte growth factor/c-MET pathway, in combination with chemotherapy, retards progression of PanIN lesions in KPC mice', in Pancreatology, Elsevier BV, pp. S39 - S40, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pan.2020.07.049
    Conference Papers | 2020
    Perera C; Xu Z; Mekapogu AR; Hosen SMZ; Pothula S; Greenfield J; Chari S; Goldstein D; Pirola R; Wilson J; Apte M, 2020, 'I. Pancreatic Stellate Cell and Cancer Cell Derived Exosomes Impair Beta Cell Function: Implications for Pancreatic Cancer Related Diabetes', in Gastroenterology, Elsevier, Chicago, USA, presented at Digestive Disease Week, Chicago, USA, 02 May 2020, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0016-5085(20)31245-2
    Conference Papers | 2020
    Perera C; Xu Z; Mekapogu AR; Hosen SMZ; Pothula S; Greenfield J; Chari S; Goldstein D; Pirola R; Wilson J; Apte M, 2020, 'Pancreatic cancer-related diabetes: Do pancreatic stellate cell and cancer cell derived exosomes play a role?', in Pancreratology, presented at European Pancreatic Club
    Conference Papers | 2019
    Xu Z; Pang T; Pothula S; Mekapogu A; Perera C; Murakami T; Goldstein D; Pirola R; Wilson J; Apte M, 2019, 'Inhibition of Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) Signaling Pathway in Combination With Chemotherapy Reduces Tumour Burden in an Orthotopic Model of Advanced Pancreatic Cancer', in PANCREAS, LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS, pp. 1551 - 1551, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000505712800617&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Conference Papers | 2019
    Xu Z; Pang T; Pothula S; Mekapogu A; Perera C; Murakami T; Goldstein D; Pirola R; Wilson J; Apte M, 2019, 'Inhibition of hepatocyte growth factor signaling pathway in combination with chemotherapy reduces tumor burden in an orthotopic model of advanced pancreatic cancer', in JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, WILEY, pp. 37 - 38, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000483843100057&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Conference Papers | 2016
    Perera C; Von Jonquieres G; Pinyon J; Parley K; Cederholm J; Julien J-P; Ryan A; Housley G, 2016, 'Phenotyping the differential innervation of the peripherin knockout mouse cochlea', in Proceedings of the Australian Physiological Society, Adelaide, presented at Australian Physiological Society, Adelaide, 04 December 2016 - 07 December 2016
    Conference Papers | 2015
    Duffy S; Lees J; Makker P; Perera C; Moalem-Taylor G, 2015, 'Central nervous system immune cell profiling in a model of chronic experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis', in Journal of Neurochemistry, Wiley, Australia, presented at 13th Meeting of the Asian-Pacific-Society-for-Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australa, Australia
    Conference Papers | 2015
    Perera C; Duffy S; Lees J; Makker P; Tonkin R; Moalem-Taylor G, 2015, 'Effects of IL-35 gene therapy on neuroinflammation and neuropathic pain following peripheral nerve injury', in Journal of Neurochemistry, Wiley, presented at 25th Biennial Meeting of the International-Society-for-Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian-Pacific-Society-for-Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australa

GESA Mostyn Family Grant (2023-2024)

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

NHMRC Ideas Grant (2020-2023) - 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

 

  1. Travel grant form NSW Cancer Institute (2023)
  2. Ingham Institute ECR Award (2022)
  3. Faculty of Medicine and Health, Values in Action Team Award (ELEVATE Team member) (2022)
  4. Travel grant from American Pancreatic Association (2022)
  5. Travel grant from Gastroenterological Society Australia (2022)
  6. South West Sydney Clinical School ECR Award (2021)
  7. Australian postgraduate award (2011-2015)
  8. Australasian neuroscience society student travel award (2015)
  9. Paper of the month award for March, 2015 from school of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales
  10. Spinal cord injury network travel grant in memory of Rosalind Nicholson (2015)
  11. Travel grant from school of Medical sciences, UNSW Australia  (2014)
  12. Travel grant from International association for the study of pain (2014)
  13. Australian neuroscience society student travel award (2014)
  14. PRSS conference travel funds from graduate research school, UNSW Australia (2013)
  15. Australian neuroscience society student travel award (2013)
  16. 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.