Dr. Thilina Lakmini Gunathilaka is a Senior Lecturer attached to the Faculty of Science with over 8 years of academic and research experience. She is a B.Sc. Human Biology (Food & Nutrition specialization) graduate from the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura and has obtained her Ph.D. in the field of biochemistry, natural product chemistry, and cancer biology from the same university with the collaboration of Industrial Research Institute. She won the young innovators award in 2021 for the newly isolated hypoglycemic compound from her Ph.D. study which was awarded by the Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, and two merit awards for the oral presentations at the 8th and 10th Young Scientists Forum symposia in 2019 and 2021.  

Selected Research and Publications 

Journal publications 

• Gunathilaka, TL, Dilrangi, KH, Ranasinghe, P, Samarakoon, KW, Peiris, LDC. (2021). Mechanistic Insight into Apoptotic Induction in Human Rhabdomyosarcoma and Breast Adenocarcinoma Cells by Chnoospora minima: A Sri Lankan Brown Seaweed. Pharmaceuticals,14, 1154. https://doi.org/10.3390/ ph14111154. 
• Gunathilaka, MDTL, Samarakoon, KW, Ranasinghe, P, Peiris, LCD. (2019). Identification of bioactive compounds in phenolic-rich extract from marine red algae Gracillaria edulis to combat obesity and Type-2 diabetes. Molecules, 24 (3708), pp 1-17. 
• Amadarshanie, DBT, Gunathilaka, TL, Rajitha, M, Navaratne, SB,  Peiris, LCD. (2022). Functional and antiglycation properties of cow milk set yogurt enriched with Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. flower extract. LWT, 154 (2022), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2021.112910. 
• Gunathilaka, MDTL, Samarakoon, KW, Ranasinghe, P, Peiris, LCD. (2019). Antidiabetic Potential of Marine Brown Algae—a Mini-Review. Journal of Diabetes Research, 1230218, pp 1-13, doi: https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/1230218. 

• Gunathilaka MDTL and Ekanayake S. (2015). Effect of different cooking methods on Glycaemic Index (GI) of Indian and Pakistan basmati rice varieties. Ceylon Medical Journal. Vol 60 (2), pp 57-61.  
• Gunathilaka MDTL and Hettiarachchi, UPK. (2020). Dietary intake and nutritional anthropometry of the non-academic employees of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura (USJP), Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan Journal of Biology, 5(2), pp.1–9. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/sljb.v5i2.61. 
• Hemasinghe, IHN, Samaranada, VA, Ranasinghe, RKKD, Shifana, SB, Zainap, MA, Ruzaik, MRM, Samarakoon, DNAW, Gunathilaka, MDTL. (2022) Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Chronic Headache due to Perceived stress. International Journal of KIU, 3(2), 72-80. https://doi.org/10.37966/ijkiu2022032026. 
• Ranadeva, NDK, Gunathilaka MDTL. (2021).  Host Genetic Susceptibility and Impacts of Dietary Factors on Covid-19. International Journal of KIU,  3 (1), 13-24. 

Book Chapters  

• Gunathilaka, MDTL, Peiris, LDC, 2021. “Advanced Pharmacological Uses of Marine Algae as an anti-diabetic therapy” book chapter in the book titled “Pharmacognosy – Medicinal Plants”, IntecOpen. 
• Gunathilaka, MDTL, Peiris, LDC, 2023. “Algae Functional Compounds” book chapter in the book titled “Algae: Functional Ingredients, Sustainable Food Science – A Comprehensive Approach”, Elsevier. 
• Kumarasinghe, HS, Gunathilaka, TL, Jayasooriya, PT, Samarakoon, KW (2022). “Marine Algae-based Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods for Food Safety and Nutritional Security” in the book titled “Environment Sustenance and Food Safety: Need for More Vibrant Policy Initiatives for Sri Lanka”. Young Scientific Forum. 

International short communications 

• Gunathilaka MDTL, De Silva WAR, Samarakoon KW, Ranasinghe P, Peiris LCD. (2022). In vitro anti-inflammatory activity of polyphenol-rich methanol extract and its fractions of Sri Lankan edible marine algae Chnoospora minima. 9th International Conference on Multidisciplinary Approaches, USJP.  
• Kumarasinghe, HS, Gunathilaka, TL, Jayasooriya, P,T, Ranasinghe, P, Peiris, L,C, D, Samarakoon K.W. (2022).Comparison of Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activity of the Polysaccharide and De-Polysaccharide Methanol Extracts of Brown Seaweed Chnoospora minima. 15th International Conference of KDU. 
• Gunathilaka, MDTL, Samarakoon, KW, Ranasinghe, P, Peiris, LDC. (2020). Anti-proliferative and apoptotic activity of polyphenol-rich crude methanol extract of Gracillaria edulis against human Rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) and breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cell lines. 1st International Electronic Conference on Biomolecules: Natural and Bio-Inspired Therapeutics for Human Diseases.  

• Gunathilaka, MDTL, Samarakoon, KW, Ranasinghe, P, Peiris, LDC. (2020). In-vitro cytotoxic activity of crude methanol extract and its fractions of Sri Lankan marine brown algae Choonospora minima. 7th International Conference on Multidisciplinary Approaches, USJP.  
• Gunathilaka, MDTL, Keerthirathna, WLR, Samarakoon, KW, Ranasinghe, P, Peiris, LDC. (2019). Phytochemical profile of main antioxidants in different fractions of Chnoospora minima and Gracillaria edulis. 6th International Conference on Multidisciplinary Approaches.  
• Gunathilaka, MDTL, Samarakoon, KW, Ranasinghe, P, Peiris, LDC. (2021). Caspase cascade activation during apoptotic cell death of human rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cells induced by different fractions of Chnoospora minima. International Conference on Applied and Pure Sciences, University of Kalaniya. 
• Gunathilaka, MDTL, Samarakoon, KW, Ranasinghe, P, Peiris, LDC. (2021). A study on cytotoxicity and apoptotic potential of different fractions of Gracillaria edulis (Gmelin) Silva against human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cells. International Conferences in Multidisciplinary Approach, University of Colombo. 
• Gunathilaka, MDTL, Samarakoon, KW, Ranasinghe, P, Peiris, LDC. (2021). Gene Expression Analysis of Human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) Cells Treated with a Sri Lankan Red Seaweed Gracillaria edulis (Gmelin) Silva. 14th International. Research Conference of KDU. 

•  Gunathilaka MDTL, Dissanayake DMIH, Ranasinghe P, Samarakoon KW, Peiris LDC. (2019). Characterization of Bioactive Compounds from Marine Red Algae Gracillaria edulis. 6th International Conference on Multidisciplinary Approaches.  
•  Gunathilaka MDTL, D Peiris, P Ranasinghe, KW Samarakoon. (2019). In-vitro anti-diabetic activity of polyphenolic rich extract from marine brown algae Choonospora minima (Hering 1841). 12th International Conference of KDU.  
• Gunathilaka MDTL, D Peiris, P Ranasinghe, KW Samarakoon (2018). In-vitro antioxidant activity and α- amylase inhibitory activity of methanolic extract of Sri Lankan marine brown algae Chnoospora minima (Hering 1841). 11th International Conference of KDU.  
•  Gunathilaka MDTL, D Peiris, P Ranasinghe, KW Samarakoon (2018). In-vitro antidiabetic properties of methanol extract and its fractions of Sri Lankan marine red algae Gracillaria edulis (Gmelin) Silva. 23rd International Forestry and Environment Symposium.  
•  Gunathilaka, MDTL, Keerthirathna, WLR, Samarakoon, KW, Ranasinghe, P, Peiris, LDC. (2019). GC-MS profiling of bioactive compounds in phenolic extract of Chnoospora minima (Hering 1841). 24th International Forestry and Environment Symposium.  

•  MDTL Gunathilaka, D Peiris, P Ranasinghe, KW Samarakoon (2018). In-vitro assessments of antioxidants and α- amylase inhibitory activity of fractions from Sri Lankan marine brown algae Chnoospora minima (Hering 1841). Asian Symposium on Medicinal Plants, spices and other natural products.  

Local short communications 

• Bandaranayake, U, Kumarasinghe, H S, Gunathilaka, TL, Jayasooriya, PT, Ranasinghe, P, Peiris, LCD, Samarakoon KW. (2022).  Comparison of phytochemicals of De-polysaccharide rich methanolic extracts of Sri Lankan Marine Alga Chnoospora minima. Proceedings of the 42nd annual sessions of Institute of Biology.  
• Gunathilaka, MDTL, Samarakoon, KW, Ranasinghe, P, Peiris, LDC. (2022). Apoptosis-related gene expression in human Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) cells treated with a Sri Lankan red seaweed Gracillaria edulis (Gmelin) Silva. YSF symposium. 
• Gunathilaka, MDTL, Samarakoon, KW, Ranasinghe, P, Peiris, LDC. (2021). Apoptogenic potential of different fractions of Sri Lankan brown seaweed Chnoospora minima against human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cell line. Open University research session. 

• Gunathilaka, MDTL, Samarakoon, KW, Ranasinghe, P, Peiris, LDC. (2021). “Fucoxanthin derivative”: a novel candidate to treat the hyperglycemic condition in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Research Conference in Health Sciences, USJP.  
• Gunathilaka MDTL, D Peiris, P Ranasinghe, KW Samarakoon (2018). Phytochemical screening and antioxidant activities of methanol extract and its solvent partitioned fractions of Sri Lankan marine red algae Gracillaria edulis (Gmelin) Silva. YSF Symposium.   
• Gunathilaka, MDTL, Samarakoon, KW, Ranasinghe, P, Peiris, LDC. (2021). Assessment of cytotoxicity and apoptotic activity of different fractions of G.edulis against human rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) cell line. College of Biochemists Sri Lanka.  
• Gunathilaka, MDTL, Samarakoon, KW, Ranasinghe, P, Peiris, LDC. (2021) Anticancer potential of polyphenol-rich crude methanol extract of Sri Lankan marine brown algae Choonospora minima against human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cell line Research Conference in Health Sciences, USJP.  
• Gunathilaka MDTL and Ekanayake S, (2014). Glycaemic Index (GI) of commercially available basmati rice varieties. 40th Annual Academic Sessions. College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka.  

• Gunathilaka MDTL and Ekanayake S. (2015). Do different cooking methods affect Glycaemic Index (GI). YSF annual scientific sessions.   
• Gunathilaka MDTL and Hettiarachchi UPK (2016). Assessment of nutritional and energy intake and selected anthropometric measurements among a sample of non-academic staff members at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. USJP annual Scientific session.