About the Department

The Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine

The Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine was established in August 2020 in collaboration with SungKyunKwan University, the Republic of Korea as a part of their Leading University Project for International Cooperation and ODA (Official Development Assistance) project which is funded by the Ministry of Education, the Republic of Korea.

Link: http://www.medical.sjp.ac.lk/index.php/immunology-introduction

The department participates in the following teaching activities:

Participation in Undergraduate Programmes

MBBS
B.Sc. (Medical Laboratory Sciences)
B.Sc. (Nursing)
B.Sc. (Pharmacy)
B.Sc. (Human Biology) – General and Special in Immunology

In January 2023, the first student started her specialization in Immunology for the BSc (Hons) in Human Biology degree program, which is the newest addition to the bachelors courses from the department. Further steps are being taken to initiate direct entry to the above course while improving the number of student intakes for the lateral entry of the same program.

Participation in Postgraduate Research and Training Programmes

PhD/MPhil research degrees
MSc in Immunology
MSc in Molecular Medicine conducted by the PGIM (research component)
MSc in Nutrition conducted by the PGIM

MSc in Immunology Program is scheduled to be started in March 2023 which is a 60 credit course of which 25 credits are allocated for the research component. It is conducted as a hybrid course in which the lectures will be held online on weekday afternoons and the practical sessions will be held on weekends on-site.

The department conducts the following trainings:

Graduate Interns

AICBU and the Dept. of Immunology and Molecular Medicine were requested to provide training to the Medical Laboratory Science Graduate Interns who were attached to the Ministry of Health and posted at the government hospitals. Training was carried out from 11th October 2021 to 18th February 2022 and 183 trainees took part in the program. Participants were split into 10 groups and each group underwent 2 weeks of lectures, demonstrations and hands-on laboratory training in PCR, swabbing, phlebotomy, sequencing and other molecular diagnostic techniques.

Undergraduate Training

In the year 2022, five students from the Faculty of Applied Sciences underwent a 10 weeks training with the AICBU as a mandatory internship in the degree programme. With the great feedback and recommendation obtained by those interns, their department has allocated 6 more students to be trained in 2023 who are following their internship at the AICBU labs at present.

Other trainings

Owing to be the most experienced laboratory in terms of PCR testing in Sri Lanka, AICBU has trained several MLTs from hospitals and Universities and helped several virologists to establish laboratories in their respective institutions including IDH and Sri Jayewardenepura hospital. Moreover, a 6 weeks training programme has been tailored to suit the demands of high school students from both local and international schools which was a great success during 2022 which provided impressive exposure to the students who took part in the internship.

Furthermore the Department engages in the following activities:

Lectures, small group discussions and practical classes in the phase II of the MBBS curriculum
Lectures, tutorials and practical classes in the Immunology Module of the B.Sc. (Medical Laboratory Sciences)
Weekly student presentation at Departmental meetings
Journal clubs
Clinical teaching at the allergy clinic for medical students
Electives for Medical Students
Seminars and workshops: laboratory techniques

Staff

Prof. Neelika Malavige

Professor in Immunology and Molecular Medicine

Prof. Neelika Malavige

Professor in Immunology and Molecular Medicine

Prof. Chandima Jeewandara

Head of the Department

Professor in Allergy, Immunology and Molecular Medicine

Prof. Chandima Jeewandara

Head of the Department

Dr. Banuri Gunasekera

Senior Lecturer

Dr. Dinuka Ariyaratne

Lecturer

Ms. Shashika Dayarathna

Lecturer

Ms. Dinithi Dahanayake

Department Coordinator

Message from director

Our Mission

The mission of AICBU is to develop human and physical resources and facilitate advanced research creating a world-class innovation platform and contributing to national development and improving health.

Our Vision

To be a Centre of Excellence in Allergy, Immunology and Molecular Medicine.

Our Mission

Our Vision

To be a Centre of Excellence in Allergy, Immunology and Molecular Medicine.

Our History

The Allergy, Immunology and Cell Biology Unit was established with a vision to expand the scope of Medical Research and Clinical Services in the fast developing field of Immunology in Sri Lanka

The 3 main objectives of the unit are;

To enhance Allergy, Immunology and Molecular Medicine education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
To improve research in the areas of Allergy, Immunology and Molecular Medicine
To establish excellent patient care services for those with allergic and autoimmune diseases.

The establishment process began at the budget proposal call in the year 2018 when a proposal was submitted to establish a state of the art research laboratory at the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. The University Grants Commission approved this in May of 2019 and Rs. 600 million was received as initial funding with the appointment of Prof. Chandima Jeewandara as the founding Director. In the year 2019/2020 all necessary equipment was procured.

Unfortunately due to the pandemic the building was delayed and we hope it will be completed in the near future. However as equipment had been procured, the unit was well equipped to detect the first cases of COVID-19 in Sri Lanka and to successfully support the COVID-19 response in the country.

In June 2020 following a cabinet memorandum (no 20/0761/215/039) as approval of the cabinet paper submitted, the Unit was established with Prof. Neelika Malavige as the Inaugural Director Research and Development and Prof. Chandima Jeewandara as the Inaugural Director of Operations and Clinical services. To enhance services of the Unit the following cadre positions were approved – 2 medical officers, 1 nursing officer, 2 technical officers and 1 management assistant. To enhance research activities 2 academic cadre positions were approved.

The unit is now functioning performing cutting edge research and providing excellent patient care while also conducting teaching for several degree programs.

Our Philosophy

A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence.

Kingster's Principle

A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence.

Key Of Success

A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence.

Powerful Alumni

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