Biography

I have been working on bio-analytical techniques and developing fluorescent tags which can be useful for biological imaging during my PhD (University of Oklahoma USA). I continued to work on molecular and cell biology after my PhD, focusing on aptamer-ligand interactions and developing applications to medical technology. Also I studied interactions amongst proteins (Mms6) that promote crystallization of iron in magnetotactic bacteria, expanding my area of work beyond pure cell biology. After returning to Sri Lanka, I’ve been working on optimizing a cost-effective screening tool to analyze urine protein in the lower range, using a 25% SSA method. My long-term objective is to share my knowledge in bio-analytical chemistry together with my teaching experience to empower the future Sri Lankan healthcare workforce, using available resources in Sri Lanka. I enjoy listening to music, singing, bird-watching, hiking and working with children.

Course/Modules Teaching for undergraduates

• Basic Sciences
• Clinical Biochemistry (Analytical component)

Administrative positions

Chairperson IQAC – Faculty of Allied Health Sciences

Research and publications

Present research interests

• Developing cost-effective screening tool for early diagnosis of CKD/CKDu
• Developing high quantum yield fluorescent tags using metal enhanced fluorescence
• Ligand exchange on gold nanoparticle surface.

Special awards and prizes

• Sooner Heritage Scholarship 2011, University Of Oklahoma
• University Scholarship for best performance, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka -Convocation, 2002.
• Coomaraswami prize for science - Biological Science-University of Peradeniya -Convocation, 2002.

Research publications(full paper)

• Metal-enhanced fluorescence of dye-doped silica nanoparticles, Kalani B Gunawardana; Nathaniel S. Green, Lloyd a. Bumm, Ronald L. Halterman, Journal of Fluorescecne, 2015 Mar 28;25(2):311-7.

Published abstracts of oral presentations

• Exchange of Alkanethiols on gold nano-particle surface, Kalani Gunawardana, Ranald Halterman , KDU international conference 2016.
• Controlling the amount of dye loaded on a nanoparticle surface, Kalani Gunawardana, Ronald L.Halterman, Lloyd A. Bumm at ACS Regional, Penta-Sectional meeting, Norman, OK, USA (2009).
• Quantitative evaluation of Urinary protein in the lower range: Clinical utility and cost effectiveness of an improved sufosalicylic acid turbidimetric method, Srimantha LASM, Siriwardana ID, Gunawardana KB, Annual Academic Sessions of Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna, December 2017. (Accepted for publication).
• Quantitative evaluation of Proteinuria in the lower range by sulfosalicylic acid method, Srimantha LASM, Siriwardana ID, Gunawardana KB, Proceedings of the 11th Annual Scientific Sessions of the Anuradhapura Clinical Society, September, 2017.

Published abstracts of poster presentations

• Metal-enhanced fluorescence of dye-doped silica nanoparticles, Kalani Gunawardana; Ronald L. Halterman, 67th Southwest Regional ACS Meeting, Austin, TX (Nov 9-12, 2011).
• Comparison of 25% sulfosalicylic acid protein to creatinine ratio vs albumn to creatinine ratio in urine of patients with chronic kidney disease. Jinadasa. A.G.R.G. Siriwardana ID, Gunawardana KB, Attanayake. A.P 4th annual academic sessions by college of chemical pathologists of Sri Lanka. 21st- 23rd March. 2019.

Editorial contribution

• Referee for the journal of physical chemistry (2015).
• Reviewer – Galle Medical Journal -2019
• Reviewer –RITSCON -2018
• Editorial Board – RUFARS -2019