Professor Ranil De Silva, Director of World Class University Project – USJP, Director, Interdisciplinary Center for Innovation in Biotechnology & Neuroscience received an invitation for four guest lectures; where two lectures were delivered at the IBRO-APRC Neuroscience School on Molecular Basis of Neuroinflammation Mediated Neurodegeneration at Baranas Hindu University, Varanasi, one speech at Manipal Academy of Higher Education, (MAHE), Manipal and the fourth guest talk at National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore (NIMHANS). Two of his PhD students, Mr.Nalaka Wijekoon and Mr.Lakmal Gonawala were also selected to the IBRO-APRC Neuroscience Varanasi School to present their current research findings in oral presentations.
The purpose of this visit was to strengthen ties between Sri Lanka and India and to emphasize the importance of innovative research collaboration on multidisciplinary areas of neuroscience for the betterment of molecular therapeutics and diagnostics of neuropathological disorders. Prof. de Silva has a long-lasting collaboration with NIMHANS where one of his PhD students, Dr. Printha Wijesinghe worked on age-related human brain neuropathologies under the supervision of Prof. S.K. Shanker, Emeritus Professor, Neuropathology & Principal Co-Ordinator Human Brain Tissue Repository (HBTR) Neurobiology Research Centre NIMHANS; the most comprehensive and largest neuropathological study completed between India and Sri Lanka. The study resulted in two high impact publications in Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease [ IF 3.731] and Journal of Current Alzheimer Research [ IF 2.28 ] in 2016 and Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy [IF 2.357] 2019 (Accepted with Revisions)
During this fruitful visit, Professor De Silva initiated discussions on signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Professor B.N. Gangadhar, the Director of NIMHANS, and Dr. H. Vinod Bhat, the Vice-Chancellor of Manipal Academy of Higher Education. This agreement between the universities would ensure opportunities to establish an exchange programme for students, academics and researchers between USJP and the Indian institutes with the goal of collaborating on research projects, private and public partnerships which would mutually benefit both universities. Furthermore, it would allow the exchange of research material, databases and joint academic activities such as workshops, seminars and collaborative research work that would ultimately uplift the world ranking of USJP.
Professor De Silva delivered the following speeches during his visit to India:
- ‘Prospects for Innovative Entrepreneurship in Bio-Medical Sciences with Sri Lanka’ – Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal
- ‘Molecular Diagnostics in Neurodegenerative and Neuromuscular Disorders: A Sri Lankan Experience towards Personalized Medicine’ – IBRO-APRC Neuroscience School on Molecular Basis of Neuroinflammation Mediated Neurodegeneration conference held in Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
- ‘Natural Products and lifestyle factors in healthy brain ageing: a Sri Lanka experience’ – IBRO-APRC Neuroscience School on Molecular Basis of Neuroinflammation Mediated Neurodegeneration conference held in Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi https://ibro.org/event/ibro-aprc-neuroscience-school-on-molecular-basis-of-neuroinflammation-mediated-neurodegeneration/
- ‘Research prospects in neuropathology and genetic testing: healthy brain ageing a Sri Lankan experience’ – National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore
On behalf of University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Prof. Ranil de Silva extends a big thank you, for the invitations and kind hospitality recived by Dr. Anita Mahadevan from the Department of Neuropathology of NIMHANS, Dr.Yasa Chickabasaviah, Professor and Head,Department of Neuropathology NIMHANS, Prof. K. Satyamoorthy, the Director of Manipal School of Life Sciences and Dr. Surya Pratap Singh, the Head of Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Baranas Hindu University. These avenues have paved the pathway towards many opportunities for collaborations and joint inventions that will enlighten the future of neuroscience research between Sri Lanka and India.
Left: Prof. Ranil de Silva, delivering his talk on ‘Prospects for Innovative Entrepreneurship in Bio- Medical Sciences with Sri Lanka’ at Manipal Academy of Higher Education. Right: Professor de Silva being felicitated by Prof. K. Satyamoorthy, Director, Manipal School of Science.
Left: Prof. Ranil de Silva delivering his speech at the IBRO-APRC Neuroscience School on Molecular Basis of Neuroinflammation Mediated Neurodegeneration conference held in Baranas Hindu University, Varanasi. Right: From left to right: Prof. K. Sathyamoorthy, Director, Manipal Life Sciences Centre, Manipal University, Dr. Vinod Bhat, Vice chancellor of Manipal university, Prof. Ranil de Silva
Left: Prof. Ranil de Silva felicitated with a shawl at the conference in NIMHANS by Dr. Yasha T Chickabasaviah,Professor and Head,Department of Neuropathology NIMHANS
Right: From left to right: Dr. G. Gururaj, Dean Faculty of Neuro Sciences of NIMHANS; Dr.B.N.Gangadhar, Director of NIMHANS; Prof. Ranil de Silva; Prof .Shankaranarayana Rao of Department of Neurophysiology NIMHANS, Dr.Anita Mahadevan of Department of Neuropathology, NIMHANS
Seated left to right: Dr. Yasha T Chickabasaviah,Professor and Head,Department of Neuropathology NIMHANS Bangalore; Prof. Ranil de Silva, Dr.S.K.Shankar, Emeritus Professor, Neuropathology & Principal Co-Ordinator, Human Brain Tissue Repository (HBTR) Neurobiology Research Centre NIMHANS; Prof. Anita Mahadevan, Professor, Department of Neuropathology Coordinator, Human Brain Tissue Repository NIMHANS
