Dr Chamini Perera
Lecturer

Dr Chamini Perera

PhD in Physiology and Pharmacology (UNSW)

BVSc (Hons)

Medicine & Health
School of Clinical Medicine

I graduated with a bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc, Hons) degree from University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka and joined the Neuropathic Pain Laboratory, School of Medical Sciences, UNSW Sydney in 2011 for my PhD.

In my PhD, I investigated the immune-modulatory approaches for the treatment of neuropathic pain in animal models. Briefly, the studies involved the investigation of effects of myelin-derived altered peptide ligand (APL) on pain behaviour,  immune and inflammatory cell activation/infiltration and up/down-regulation of cytokines in the nervous system following peripheral nerve injury and spinal cord injury in experimental rats. Furthemore, I investigated the effects of intrathecal administration of novel cytokine, Interleukin (IL)-35 on neuropathic pain and associated glial cell activation following peripheral nerve injury.

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.

Currently, I work as a Lecturer in the Pancreatic Research Group, School of South West Clinical School/Ingham Institute, Liverpool. Pancreatic Research Group investigate the underlying mechanism and possible novel therapeutic approaches for chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. In particular, I am interested in investigating the mechanisms of diabetes associated with pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis in rodent models. As an immunology enthusiast, I am keen to explore immune and inflammatory mediators and markers involved in pancreatic diseases.

I am the Founder of the Ingham Institute Public Speaking Club and the Founding Deputy Chair of the Ingham Institute Postdoctoral Association.
Phone
0287389031
E-mail
h.c.perera@unsw.edu.au
Location
South West Sydney Clinical School/Ingham Institute Level 4, 1 Campbell Street Liverpool, 2170 NSW, Australia
  • 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 Modern Trends in Pharmacopsychiatry, pp. 51 - 66, http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000435932
  • 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, vol. 13, 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, vol. 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, vol. 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, vol. 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, vol. 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, vol. 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, vol. 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, vol. 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, vol. 12, 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, vol. 7, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2016.00369
    Journal articles | 2015
    Lees JG; Duffy SS; Perera CJ; Moalem-Taylor G, 2015, 'Depletion of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells increases severity of mechanical allodynia and significantly alters systemic cytokine levels following peripheral nerve injury', Cytokine, vol. 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, vol. 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, 2015, 'Effects of active immunisation with myelin basic protein and myelin-derived altered peptide ligand on pain hypersensitivity and neuroinflammation', Journal of Neuroimmunology, vol. 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, vol. 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, vol. 153, pp. 1916 - 1931, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2012.06.005
  • 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 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, http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?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, http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?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

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

  1.  South West Sydney Clinical School ECR Award (2021)
  2. Australian postgraduate award (2011-2015)
  3. Australasian neuroscience society student travel award (2015)
  4. Paper of the month award for March, 2015 from school of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales
  5. Spinal cord injury network travel grant in memory of Rosalind Nicholson (2015)
  6. Travel grant from school of Medical sciences, UNSW Australia  (2014)
  7. Travel grant from International association for the study of pain (2014)
  8. Australian neuroscience society student travel award (2014)
  9. PRSS conference travel funds from graduate research school, UNSW Australia (2013)
  10. Australian neuroscience society student travel award (2013)
  11. Astron scholarship for best performance in 1st, 2nd and 3rd BVSc in 2006
     

 

Animal Models of Pancreatic Cancer and Diabetes

Extracellular Vesicles

Animal models of neuropathic pain

Animal models of hearing and stroke

Calcium imaging

I have experience in teaching Anatomy, Physiology, Immunology, Microbiology and Biology for Medical, Medical Science and Science students.