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Dr. R. Dushanan

BSc (SEUSL), PhD in Chemistry (OUSL)

Senior Lecturer (G II)

Department of Chemistry
  • CRC
  • rdush@ou.ac.lk

I obtained my B.Sc. special degree in Chemistry with second class honors from the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka in November 2016. Commencing my professional journey, I served as a Demonstrator in the Department of Chemistry at the Open University of Sri Lanka from 2017 to 2018. After that, I started my Ph.D. at the same university and completed it in 2022. By 2023, I had the privilege of being appointed as a senior lecturer in chemistry at the Open University of Sri Lanka.

Computational chemistry based theoritical calculations

Advanced computational techniques, molecular modeling
  • Senior Lecturer, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, The Open University of Sri Lanka (December 2023 to present)
  • Teaching Assistant, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, The Open University of Sri Lanka (January 2023 to November 2018)
  • Research Assistant, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, The Open University of Sri Lanka (August 2018 to August 2022)
  • Teaching Assistant, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, The Open University of Sri Lanka (May 2017 to July 2018)
  • Computational studies to explore the inhibition of epigenetic modifications in cancer, specifically focusing on DNA methylation and histone deacetylation.
  • Exploring novel inhibitors for inhibiting the DNA Methyltransferase enzyme using Sri Lanka Oriented Nutraceuticals.
  • Exploring novel inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2 using Sri Lankan Flora database: An in-silico approach.
  • In-silico studies on bioactive compounds in black seeds against Alzheimer’s targets.
  1. Dushanan, S. Weerasinghe, D. P. Dissanayake, R. Senthilnithy. (2022) Implication of Ab Initio, QM/MM, and Molecular Dynamics Calculations on the Prediction of the Therapeutic Potential of Some Selected HDAC Inhibitors. Mol Simul. 48(16), p. 1464-1475. https://doi.org/10.1080/08927022.2022.2097672.
  2. R. Dushanan, S. Weerasinghe, D. P. Dissanayake, R. Senthilnithy. (2022) Driving the new generation histone deacetylase inhibitors in cancer therapy; manipulation of the histone abbreviation at the epigenetic level: An in-silico approach. Can. J. Chem. 100(12), p. 880-890. https://doi.org/10.1139/CJC-2022-0056.
  3. G. Parthiban, R. Dushanan, D. P. Dissanayake, S. Weerasinghe, R. Senthilnithy. (2022) Exploration of Novel Mono Hydroxamic Acid Derivatives as Inhibitors for Histone Deacetylase Like Protein (HDLP) by Molecular Dynamics Studies. Indones. J. Chem. 22(6), p. 1534-1552. https://doi.org/10.22146/ijc.74167.
  4. R. Dushanan, S. Weerasinghe, D. P. Dissanayake, R. Senthilinithy. (2022) Cracking a Cancer Code Histone Deacetylation in Epigenetic: The Implication from Molecular Dynamics Simulations on Efficacy Assessment of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors. J Biomol Struct Dyn, 40(5), p. 2353-2368. https://doi.org/10.1080/07391102.2020.1838328
  5. R. Dushanan, S. Weerasinghe, D. P. Dissanayake, R. Senthilnithy. (2021) An In-Silico Approach to Evaluate the Inhibitory Potency of Selected Hydroxamic Acid Derivatives on Zinc-Dependent Histone Deacetylase Enzyme. J. Comput. Biophys. Chem, 20(6), p. 603–618. https://doi.org/10.1142/S2737416521500356
  1. R. H. Sirimanna, R. Dushanan, D. P. W. Jayatunga, and R. Senthilnithy. Quantum Mechanics / Molecular Mechanics Study on Selected Nutraceuticals Targeting Mitochondrial Dysfunction Related Protein in Alzheimer’s Disease. The Open University Research Sessions 2023, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka, 2023, p. 36.
  2. R. Dushanan, S. Weerasinghe, D. P. Dissanayake, and R. Senthilnithy. Structure-Based Virtual Screening, and MM-GBSA Calculation to Predict Potent Inhibitors from Natural Products on DNMT Linked Cancer Treatment. International Open University Research Sessions 2022, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka, 2022, p. 89.
  3. R. Dushanan, S. Weerasinghe, D. P. Dissanayake, and R. Senthilnithy. In-Silico Investigation to Predict the Potential of HDAC Inhibitors to Inhibit the HDLP Enzyme: A Molecular Dynamics Study. International Conference on Multidisciplinary Approaches in Science 2021, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2021, p. 22.
  4. G. Parthiban, R. Dushanan, S. Weerasinghe, D. P. Dissanayake, and R. Senthilnithy. Investigation of the Impact of HDAC Inhibitors on Human HDAC Enzyme: An In-Silico Approach. Peradeniya University International Research Sessions, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2021, p. 502.
  5.  
  7. R. Dushanan, S. Weerasinghe, D. P. Dissanayake, and R. Senthilnithy. Comparative Study of MM-PBSA and LIE Binding Free Energy on Selected HDLP-Inhibitor Complexes. Peradeniya University International Research Sessions, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2021, p. 487.
  8. R. Dushanan, S. Weerasinghe, D. P. Dissanayake, and R. Senthilnithy. Petchicine, A Novel Human DNMT Enzyme Inhibitor Isolated from Sri Lankan Medicinal Plant: An In-Silico Approach. International Conference on Applied and Pure Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2021, p. 34.
  9. R. Dushanan, S. Weerasinghe, D. P. Dissanayake, and R. Senthilnithy. Insights from Computational Approach to Predict the Inhibitory Efficacy of the HDAC Inhibitor on HDLP Enzyme. 14th International Research Conference, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Ratmalana, Sri Lanka, 2021, p. 4.
  10. R. Dushanan, S. Weerasinghe, D. P. Dissanayake, and R. Senthilnithy. In-silico Studies on the Inhibition of DNA Methyltransferase Enzyme Using (19r)-Epimisiline: A Compound Isolated from Sri Lankan Medicinal Plant. 7thInternational Conference on Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Traditional Medicine, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka, 2021, p. 18.
  11. R. Dushanan, S. Weerasinghe, D. P. Dissanayake, and R. Senthilnithy. Inhibition of Histone Deacetylase Like-Protein: Insights from Computational Studies. PGIS Research Congress, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2020, p. 189.
  12. G. Parthiban, R. Dushanan, S. Weerasinghe, D. P. Dissanayake, and R. Senthilnithy. Manipulation of Histone Modification Using Hydroxamic Acid Derivatives: An Implication of Ramachandran Plot. 13th International Research Conference, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Ratmalana, Sri Lanka, 2020, p. 22.
  13. R. Dushanan, S. Weerasinghe, D. P. Dissanayake, and R. Senthilnithy. Effect of HDAC Inhibitors on the Stability of HDLP Enzyme: An In-Silico Approach. 13th International Research Conference, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Ratmalana, Sri Lanka, 2020, p. 4.
  14. G. Parthiban, R. Dushanan, S. Weerasinghe, D. P. Dissanayake, and R. Senthilnithy. Interaction of Hydroxamic Acids Derivatives in the Clinical Trial I with HDLP enzyme; An In-Silico Approach. 1st International Conference on Frontiers in Chemical Technology, Institute of Chemistry Ceylon, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka, 2020, p. 100.
  15. R. Dushanan, D. P. Dissanayake, S. Weerasinghe, and R. Senthilnithy. QM/MM Studies on Inhibition of Histone Deacetylation. 1st International Conference on Frontiers in Chemical Technology, Institute of Chemistry Ceylon, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka, 2020, p. 98.
  16. R. Dushanan, S. Weerasinghe, D. P. Dissanayake, and R. Senthilnithy. In-silico Investigation of Inhibitory Efficacy of Selected Hydroxamic Acid Derivatives on Histone Deacetylase Enzyme. 9th YSF Symposium, National Science and Technology Commission, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka, 2020, p. 19-24.
  17. R. Dushanan, G. R. Ranawaka, S. Weerasinghe, and R. Senthilnithy. Computational Studies on Inhibition of Histone Deacetylation by Hydroxamic Acid Derivatives: An In-Silico Approach. 15th Open University Research Session, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka, 2017, p. 461-464.
  • PhD scholarship awarded by National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka (August 2018 to August 2021)
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