“One Health” approach the epidemiology of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus isolated from humans, animals, and animal products in southern Sri Lanka”: funding through the National Research Council Sri Lanka (Total: 0 Million Rupees). This PhD research project is designed to describe the prevalence, transmission and zoonotic threat of MRSA isolates from humans, animals and animal products in Southern, Sri Lanka. Sample and data collection commenced in August 2019. ( PI- Prof. Ajith Nagahawatte; Co-Investigators – Dr. W. M. D. Gaya Bandara Wijayaratne, Prof. Champica K. Bodinayake, Dr. Gayani Tillekeratne, Prof. Christopher W. Woods, Prof. Truls Ostbye, Dr. Dharshan de Silva)
“The Sri Lanka Emerging Acute Respiratory Infection and Febrile Illness Characterization” (SEARCh) Study– this was proposed to detect and describe pathogens causing acute undifferentiated febrile illness, as well as related patterns of host response in Sri Lanka. The research was funded by Duke-NUS and commenced on 29th June 2012 for two years. The data and sample collection ended on 13th October 2014 (120 weeks) with a total enrollment of 2009 patients. During the period, more than 15 research assistants (pre-intern medical students) and two Phlebotomists have been working under the study. Sample testing, data analysis and publications are still in progress. (PI – Dr. C K Bodinayke, Dr. Ajith Nagahawatte, Prof. Chris Wood and Dr. Megan Reller).
“Acute Febrile Respiratory Illness among Outpatients in Southern Sri Lanka” – this was a continuation/expansion of the previous Duke-NUS funded SEARCh study towards the Febrile respiratory illness; identify and categorize febrile illness pathogens and enable discovery of new pathogens. Data and sample collection commenced on 09 March 2013 and ended on 31 January 2015 (99 weeks) with a total enrollment number of 584 patients. Sample testing, data analysis and publications are still in progress. (PIs – Dr. C K Bodinayke, Dr. Ajith Nagahawatte Prof. Chris Wood and Dr. Megan Reller).
“Suspected Leptospirosis in Southern Sri Lanka”– Etiology, Risk Factors, and Clinical Outcomes of Severe Disease- this was another continuation/expansion of the previous Duke-NUS funded SEARCh study towards Leptospirosis; to determine the etiologies of disease in patients presenting with signs and symptoms resembling severe leptospirosis in Southern Sri Lanka. Data and sample collection commenced on 08 March 2014 and ended on 14th February 2015 (50 weeks) with a total enrolment of 267 patients. Sample testing, data analysis and publications are still in progress. (PIs – Dr. C K Bodinayke, Dr. Ajith Nagahawatte, Wasantha Kodikara Arachchi, Prof. Chris Wood and Dr. Megan Reller).
“Multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in antenatal women and their infants in southern Sri Lanka” (MDRE) study – funding through the Triangle Center for Evolutionary Medicine (TriCEM); a collaboration between Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, and North Carolina Central University. This study is designed to determine the relatedness of MDRE strains and the relatedness of their resistance-encoding β-lactamases in antenatal women, infants, and environmental reservoirs. Data collection commenced on August 2016. Sample testing, data analysis and publications are still in progress. (PI – Dr. L Gayani Tillekeratne and Dr. M D C Sarath Kularatna, Co-Investigators: Hannah Meredith, Dr. Ajith Nagahawatte, Dr. Champica Bodinayake, Dr. Siddhartha Thakur, Prof. Christopher Woods, Dr. Maria Joyce, Dr. Bhagya Piyasiri, Ms. Ruvini Kurukulasooriya and Dr. Brian Wiegmann)
“Partnership to Enhance Antimicrobial use in Resource-Limited settings (PEARL)”: An Assessment of Need and Feasibility of Antimicrobial Stewardship programme; this study was funded by Pilot grant fund from the Duke Global Health Institute. And this study was conducted at three sites in parallel (Teaching Hospital Karapitiya (THK) – Sri Lanka, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) – Kenya and Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) – Tanzania). And the main objective was to identify the need for and barriers to implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programmes at tertiary care centers located in 3 disparate LMIC (low- or middle income countries) settings: Sri Lanka, Kenya, and Tanzania. Data collection was commenced on December 2017 and ended on December 2018. (Key investigators: Gayani Tillekeratne, Prof. Ajith Nagahawatte, Prof. Champica Bodinayake, Dr. Bhagya Piyasiri, Ms. Ruvini Kurukulasooriya, Prof. Christoper W. Woods, Prof. Truls Ostbye, Prof. Richard Drew, Prof. Melissa Watt, Prof. Peter Kussin.
Respiratory Virus Epidemic in Southern Province, Sri Lanka 2018” Analysis of patients admitted to Teaching Hospital Karapitiya”: This research was conducted by the supplementing funding from the RISE study (K23 grant) and the training grant from the NIH (TW009337). This study was proposed to describe the etiology and severity of respiratory viral infections among children and adults admitted to Teaching Hospital Karapitiya during the 2018 epidemic of respiratory viral infections. Data and Sample collection was completed. Sample testing, data analysis and publications are still in progress. (PI- Dr.Sky Vanderburg, Champica Bodinayake; Co-Investigators- Dr. Gayani Tillekeratne Prof. Ajith Nagahawatte, Prof. Christopher Woods, Prof. Vasantha Devasiri, Dr. Gaya Wijayaratne , Dr. Bradly Nicholson, Elizabeth Petzold, Gregory Gray, Dr. Sunethra Gunesena, Dr. Muhunthan Sellathurai, Dr.Bhagya Piyasiri, Dr. Lakmal Fonseka, Ms. Ruvini Kurukulasooriya)
