Prof. Vajira H. W. Dissanayake was inducted as the President of the Sri Lanka Medical Association. The Sri Lanka Medical Association
is the oldest national medical association in Asia and Australasia. Founded in 1887 the SLMA is celebrating its will be celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2012. Prof. Dissanayake is the youngest person to be appointed to this prestegious post.
December 2010 - The Launch of the Sri Lankan Personal Genome
Launch of the Sri Lankan Personal Genome on 10 December 2010 at the Annual Scientific Sessions of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of
Science in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The hard disk containing the Sri Lankan Personal Genome is being handed over to the Senior Minister for Scientific Affairs Hon. Prof.
Tissa Vitharana by Prof. Vajira H. W. Dissanayake, Chairperson, Specialty Board in Biomedical Informatics and Dr. Rajesh Gokhale, Director Institute of Genomics
and Integrative Biology, India.
October 2010 - Dr. Prabha Andraweera Wins the Zuspan Award at the 17th World Congress of the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy (ISSHP)
Dr. Prabha Andraweera, Lectuer in the Unit, who is currently reading for her PhD in the Universty of Adelaide, Australia attended the 17th World Congress of the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy in Melbourne, Australia from 6 to 10 October 2010.
She submitted four abstracts to this congress and all four were selected for oral presentations. She was awarded the Zuspan Award after being judged to have undertaken and then presented the most outstanding work in Basic Science in relation to the study of hypertension in pregnancy.
The award is named after Frederick P Zuspan a distinguished founding member and a Past President of ISSHP.
June 2010 - The official MSc Courses
The MSc courses in Clinical Genetics and Genetic Diagnostics were officially launched at the Satellite Meeting on Medical Genetics at the of the 123rd Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association on 4 June 2010.
Prof. Rohan W Jayasekara - Welcoming the Guests and Introducing the Courses
Dignitories at the Launch - From Left to Right: Sushil Chandra Amatya, Nepali High Commissioner ; Tore Hattrem, Norwegian Ambassador; Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama, Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo; Prof. Harshalal Seneviratne, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Prof. Dag Undlien, Head of the Institute of Genetics, University of Oslo, Prof. Rohan W Jayasekara, Director, Human Genetics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo.
October 2009 - Genetics Workshop at the National Academy of Medical Sciences, Nepal
Dr. Vajira H. W. Dissanayake conducted a two day Medical Genetics workshop for Faclty and Students of the National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS), Kathmandu, Nepal on 24-25th October 2009 at the Bir Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal. NAMS will be the main regional partner institution for the MSc courses that the HGU will commence in August 2010.
The picture was taken when Dr. Vajira H. W. Dissanayake was welcomed at the Vice Chancellors office at NAMS. From Left to Right: Dr. Shree Krishna Giri - Rector, Dr. Vishow Raj Joshi - Registrar, Dr. Vajira HW Dissanayake, Dr. Chandra Prakash Maske - Vice Chanceler, Dr. Chandrika Devi Shresth - Head Department of Pathology, Dr. Ranga Bahadur Basnet - Associate Professor and Senior Consultant Pathologist, Dr. Madhuri Adhikari - Chief Consultant pathologist.
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Course Participants with Dr. Vajira H. W. Dissanayake after presenting him a momento.
September 2009 - Dr. Vajira H. W. Dissanayake was awarded the University Research Price for 2009 at the Postgraduate Concovation of the University of Colombo, by His Excellency Mahinda Rajapakse President of Sri Lanka, on 6 September 2009.
March 2009 - Sri Lanka Medical Association 122nd Annual Scientific Sessions
Pre-Congress Workshop on Ethics of International Collaborative Research
conducted jointly by
Department of Anthropology, University of Durham, UK
Human Genetics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
Ethics Review Committee, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Medical Association
with funding from
The Economic and Social Research Council, UK
The World Health Organisation
Wednesday 18 March 2009
at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
click here to access the workshop booklet
The following is a reference to a paper based on the deliberations at the workshop:
Simpson R, Dissanayake V, Douglas-Jones R, Sariola S. Biomedical Research in South Asia - Ethical Review, Remit and Responsibilities. The News Letter of the International Institute for Asian Studies, No. 52 Winter 2009:27.
click here to access the article online
The Faculty of the Workshop
December 2008 - Dr. Vajira H. W. Dissanayake receives the Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS)/National Science Foundation(NSF)-Sri Lanka Young Scientist Award for Scientific Excellence 2008
Dr. Vajira H. W. Dissanayake was awarded the TWAS/NSF Young Scientist Award for Scientific Excellence at the National Science and Technology Awards 2008 on 13 December 2008 at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo from the Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Tissa Vitharana.
October 2008 - tele-Genetics Project Short Listed for Manthan Awards 2008
The tele-genetics project of the Human Genetics Unit was shortlisted for awards under e-Health category at the Manthan Awards 2008. Manthan Awards is awarded in various categories to the best internet based content (e-content) developed in the South Asian Region. This year there were 286 applications of which 67 were shortlisted for awards; including the tele-genetics project. The award ceremony was held on 18 October 2008 in New Delhi, India. The award in the e-Health category was won by an Indian website.
September 2008 - Human Genetics Unit at 13th Human Genome Meeting in Hyderabad, India
Dr. Vajira H. W. Dissanayake, Lakshini Weerasekara, and Pubudu Samarakoon attended the HGM to present three posters.
September 2008 - Dr. Vajira H. W. Dissanayake recieves the TOYP 2008 Award
Dr. Vajira H. W. Dissanayake was awarded the �The outstanding Young Person (TOYP) 2008� award under the category of �Medical Research� on September 12, 2008 by the Junior Chamber International � Sri Lanka.
Dr. Vajira H. W. Dissanayake receives the award from the British High commissioner
March 2008 - Dr. Vajira H. W. Dissanayake delivers the SLMA oration
The SLMA oration for 2008, the highest award for medical research awarded by the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) was delivered by Dr. Vajira H. W. Dissanayake at the inauguration of the 121st Annual SLMA Scientific Sessions on March 19, 2008 at the Cinnamon Grand, Colombo.
The title of the oration was 'Genetics of Pre-eclampsia and the Weight of Babies at Birth - Clinical and Genetic Studies in Sri Lanka'
The President of the SLMA Prof. Lalitha Mendis awarding the SLMA Oration Medal to Dr. Dissanayake
Dr. Dissanayake delivering the SLMA oration
February 2008 - Human Genetics Unit featured in the Sunday Times
November 2007 - Dr. Prabha Andraweera receives Australian Leadership Scholarship
Dr. Prabha Andraweera was awarded a Prestegious Australian Leadership Award Scholarship to
read for her PhD at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, University of Adelaide, Australia under Prof. Claire Roberts.
August 2007 - Prof. Rohan W. Jayasekara delivers the Dr. M.P.M. Cooray Memorial Oration of the Catholic Doctors Guild of St. Luke Saints Cosmas and Damian.
The Dr. M.P.M. Cooray Memorial Oration for 2007 was delivered at the SLMA Auditorium on August 4, 2007 by Prof. Rohan W Jayasekara. The title of the oration was "The New Reproductive Technologies in Sri Lanka, A Christian Perspective".
Prof. Rohan W Jayasekara Delivering the Orations
June 2007 - Launch of the tele-Genetics Project
The HGU tied up with the
ICTA and the
Nanasala Network to enable people in rural areas to obtain genetic consultations online without the need to come to Colombo.
The staff of the Human Genetics Unit (HGU), Information Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) and Kurunegala Teaching Hospital (KTH) at the launch of the project at Kurunegala Teaching Hospital on 6 June 2007. From Left to Right: Mr. Upali (KTH), Dr. Vajira H. W. Dissanayake (HGU), Ms. Chitrangani Mubarak (Programme Manager, ICTA), Dr. Ananda Gunasekara (Director, KTH), Prof. Rohan W Jayasekara (Director, HGU), Mr. Gavashkar Subramanium (ICTA).
May 2007 - Colombo-Nottingham Collaboration Leads to New Gene Determining Birthweight
[ Journal Article | News ]
February 2007 - HGU Poster wins first price at ICOGEN 07 in Chennai, India
The poster titled "Chromosomal abnormalities in Sri Lankan women with primary amenorrhoea." by Wetthasinghe, TK, Andraweera PHR, De Saram EMNR, Perera VS, Dissanayake VHW, Jayasekara RW.
won the first price for free papers as the ICOGEN 07 conference in Chennai, India. [ Abstract | Poster ]
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