Saliya Gurusinghe
Research and professional experience
2012- Present Doctor of Philosophy - School of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650
2011 Bachelor of Medical Science (Honours) - School of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650
2010 Research Assistant (voluntary)- Verma group, Center for reproduction and development, Monash Institute of Medical Research Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168
2008-2010 Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences – Box Hill Institute of Technology, Box Hill VIC 3128
Awards and Scholarships
2014 Conference travel award – Australasian Society for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering (ASBTE)
2013 Conference education/ travel award- National Stem Cell Foundation Australia (NSCFA)
2012 Postgraduate Research Scholarship- Faculty of Science COMPACT Scholarship Award, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650
Publications
2014 Saliya Gurusinghe and Padraig Strappe, “Gene Modification of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Articular Chondrocytes to Enhance Chondrogenesis,” BioMed Research International, vol. 2014, Article ID 369528, 2014
Request for travel grant
I am a third year PhD student from the school of biomedical sciences, Charles Sturt University in regional NSW. My Abstract is titled “Lentiviral vector expression of Sox9 and induced pluripotent stem cell factors suppress dedifferentiation of chondrocytes”. This work focuses on the role of the somatic cell reprogramming factors in enhancing the chondrogenic phenotype in chondrocytes and is a novel approach to reprogram chondrocytes.
I was fortunate to be chosen to present a poster at the last ASSCR meeting and was a tremendous opportunity to network with those within the field and especially the opportunity to meet Prof Andras Nagy to discuss some aspects of my research. All this wouldn’t have been possible if it had it not been for the conference travel award granted by the National Stem Cell Foundation. I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to present the latest findings from my work at the 2014 conference and would like to apply for the conference travel grant to make it possible as funding an interstate conference visit with limited funds would strain budget allocation for research. The expected travel costs would be approximately $371.20.
Thank you.
Saliya Gurusinghe
Abstracts this author is presenting: