Thilini Samarasinghe Ph D Bio Med Sci Hons

• Proficient in adult polysomnography studies: laboratory set-up, equipment calibration, application and removal of electrodes for electroencephalogram (EEG) and Electrocardiography (ECG). •Liaising with patients and recruitment of research subjects and explaining protocols in plain language. • Strong understanding of the clinical research governance required for clinical trials to proceed within a hospital environment. • Provided support to conduct NHMRC funded clinical studies as well as clinical research within the department. • Recruitment of participants and data collection. • Non-invasive ventilation (CPAP) in adult: education, mask-fitting and titration. • Monitoring patients overnight, preparing patient reports and analysis of data.

• Proficient in adult polysomnography studies: laboratory set-up, equipment calibration, application of electrodes. • Recruitment of research subjects and explaining protocols in plain language. • Non-invasive ventilation (CPAP) in adult: education, mask-fitting and titration. • Monitoring patients overnight and preparing patient reports.

• Provided research support for NHMRC funded projects. • Responsible for drafting and finalizing ethics applications. • Conducting day to day laboratory experiments, animal handling (small and large animals), injections and animal surgery. • Met deadlines for various research projects. • Collaborated with scientists/clinicians to maintain and prepare ethics, NHMRC reports, annual reports and publications • Organised weekly meetings with clinicians, PIs, researchers, staff and students and presented clinical and scientific research. • Writing of literature reviews ,data acquisition, statistical analysis, interpretation and presentation. • Extensive experience microtomy, immunohistopatholgy and immunoassays. • Responsible for setting up OHSE inductions, lab demonstrations for visiting scientists, new staff and students.

My research project investigated the postnatal respiratory function of newborn mice subjected to the effects of antenatal inflammation and nicotine exposure, two common challenges that are associated with premature birth and altered respiratory function in human infants. In particular my PhD program examined how newborn mice born to mothers given the highest dose of nicotine (6mg/kg/day) and who also had inflammation were highly likely to die on the day of birth. Using a variety of molecular techniques, I showed that nicotine and inflammation reduced the effectiveness of lung sodium channels (ENaC) in clearing lung liquid during labour and immediately after birth. In a series of respiratory function studies, I also showed that these perinatal insults affect the responsiveness of the ventilatory control system to the respiratory challenges of hypoxia and hypercapnia over the neonatal period in mice and that this effect can be sustained through to adulthood.