Self-motivated, passionate Biochemist with extensive experience in oncology, cell based assay development, cell and molecular biology and cancer therapeutics. Looking for a challenging opportunity to utilize the knowledge and experience in a R&D position.

EXPERTIES-Cancer Biology, Molecular Biology, Bioassay and Toxicology

•Cell Biology: Sterile cell culture techniques, 3D cell culture models, Mammalian/ bacteria/ insect cell culture.

•Bioassay: Cell viability, Reporter assays (luciferase), Cytotoxicity, Enzyme kinetics, Protein analysis

•Biochemistry: Protein expression, Protein purification using size exclusion/ affinity chromatograph/HPLC, Drug metabolism analysis using LC/MS, SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, ELISA, Identification of protein modifications using LC/MS.

•Molecular Biology: DNA and RNA extraction and purification, Recombinant DNA cloning, transfection, RNAi (siRNA, shRNA), q RT-PCR, Gene array, Immunohistochemistry

•Oncology and cancer biology: Migration assays, Invasion, Metastasis, DNA adduct detection in biological samples, Malignant transformation assays, Tumor formation in in vitro and pseudo in vivo models

•Instrumentation: Confocal microscopy, Fluorescent microscopy, HPLC, UV-Visible spectroscopy, Mass spectroscopy, Extra cellular flux analyzer (seahorse), flowcytometry

•Data analysis/ software: Prism, SPSS, MS excel,, ImageJ, Photoshop

•Personal: Independent, Leadership, Organized, Multidisciplinary collaboration, Self-learner, Proactive.

EDUCATION

PhD in Toxicology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL – 2013

BS in Human Biology (Biochemistry major), University of Sri Jayawardenepura, Sri Lanka- 2008

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Research Scientist, Nano-bio Constellation, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Albany, NY, 2015 – Present, Postdoctoral Fellow, Nano-bio Constellation, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Albany, NY, 2013- 2015

Signaling pathway studies for ovarian and breast cancer metastasis

Genetically engineered cancer cell lines to generate 8 stably transfected cell lines using RNA interference techniques.

Drug combination therapy analysis using different cytotoxicity assays

Designed and optimized cell metabolism analysis with extracellular flux analysis (seahorse).

Tumor suppressor and oncogene expression analysis using q RT-PCR and gene array.

Enzyme kinetic experiments to analyze catalase activity and hydrogen peroxide production.

Ovarian cancer migration and invasion analysis in in vitro and ex ovo models.

Multidisciplinary cancer research project coordination to study cancer metastasis in space with a pharmaceutical company and academic institutes.

Working as a project coordinator in a NIH/NCI funded tumor microenvironment and breast cancer metastasis project.

Optimized collection of metastatic cells from the human tumors grown in ex ovo models using an implantable micro fluidic device.

Working as a BSL2 lab manager and duties included organizing, maintaining lab instruments and training/mentoring students.

Presented scientific data at multiple conferences and contributed in manuscript writing and book chapter writing.

Graduate Research Associate, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 2009-2013

Drug metabolism and DNA adduct analysis using LC/MS-MS.

Drug toxicity analysis in breast cancer cell lines using different cytotoxicity assays

Small molecule analysis with triple quadruple and iron trap mass spectrometers

Optimized methods for quantitative analysis of estrogen metabolism in biological samples before and after exposure to different drugs and botanical dietary supplements.

Successfully demonstrated that hops, a botanical dietary supplement used to alleviate postmenopausal symptoms, has breast cancer preventive properties.

Discovered that selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), which have known estrogen receptor (ER) mediated breast cancer preventive mechanisms also have a novel ER independent mechanism of breast cancer prevention.

Contributed to several multidisciplinary projects leading to publication of 4 peer review articles and multiple talks and poster presentations.

Selected Presentations and Talks

Poster presentation: Annual AACR meeting; Philadelphia, PA – 2015, "Mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (Sod2) modulates ovarian clear cell carcinoma transcoelomic metastatic pathway"

Poster presentation: AACR 10th Biennial Ovarian Cancer Research Symposium; Seattle, WA – 2014, "Mitochondrial superoxide dismutase regulates ovarian clear cell carcinoma metastasis"

Poster presentation: AACR Special Conference on Advances in Ovarian Cancer Research – 2013, "The mitochondrial antioxidant Superoxide Dismutase 2 is necessary for ovarian cancer spheroid formation"

Oral presentation: 50th annual MIKI meeting; University of Iowa – 2012, " Prevention of estrogen carcinogenesis by selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) and botanical dietary supplements"

Poster presentation: American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) national meeting; Chicago, IL – 2012

"Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) act as breast cancer chemopreventive agents in human mammary epithelial cells by attenuating oxidative estrogen metabolism"

Oral presentation: College of Pharmacy UIC; Chicago, IL– 2011, "Molecular mechanism of breast cancer chemoprevention"

Poster presentation: American Chemical Society (ACS) national meeting; Denver, CO – 2011, "Selective estrogen receptor modulators inhibit oxidative stress and malignant transformation in breast epithelial (MCF-10A) cells"

Poster presentation: Society of Toxicology (SOT); Washington DC – 2010, "Hops (Humulus lupulus) inhibits estrogen metabolism in non-tumorigenic human breast epithelial cells (MCF-10A)"

Publications

1.“Development of microfluidic-based cancer cell collection devices for in vitro and in vivo use.” Logan Butt, Dave Entenberg, L.P.Madhubhani Hemachandra et. al. SPIE Photonic West, 2016, in press

2. “Mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (sod2) has a pro-tumorigenic role in ovarian clear cell carcinoma.” L.P. Madhubhani P. Hemachandra, et. al. Cancer Research. 2015 Nov 15;75(22):4973-84

3. “Increased Sod2 expression regulated ovarian cancer spheroid survival.” L.P. Madhubhani P. Hemachandra et. al. In preparation

4.“SERMs attenuate estrogen induced malignant transformation of human mammary epithelial cells by up regulating detoxification of oxidative metabolites”. L.P.Madhubhani P. Hemachandra, et. al. Cancer Prevention Research 2014; 7: 505-515.

5.Bioenergetic analysis of ovarian cancer cell lines: Profiling of histological subtypes and identification of a mitochondria- defective cell line.” Usawadee Dier, Dong Hui Shin, L.P. Madhubhani P. Hemachandra, et. al. PLoS One; 2014: 9, e98479

6.“Hops (Humulus lupulus) inhibits Oxidative Estrogen Metabolism and Estrogen-Induced Malignant Transformation in Human Mammary Epithelial cells (MCF-10A). L.P. Madhubhani P. Hemachandra et. al. Cancer Prevention Research 2011; 5:73-81.

7.Raloxifene and desmethylarzoxifene block estrogen-induced malignant transformation of human breast epithelial cells. Irida Kastrati, Praneeth D. Edirisinghe, L.P. Madhubani P. Hemachandra,, et. al. PLOS one 2011, 6, e27876.

8.Click synthesis of estradiol–cyclodextrin conjugates as cell compartment selective estrogens.” Kim, H. Y, Sohn, J, Wijewickrama, G.T., Edirisinghe, P., Gherezghiher, T., Hemachandra, M., et. al. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry 2010;18(2): 809-821

Honors and Awards

3rd Place in oral presentation, 50th annual MIKI meeting held at University of Iowa 2012

W.E. van Doren Scholar, Collage of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago 2012

Graduate student travel award, Society of Toxicology 2011

Paul Sang award, Collage of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago 2011

Graduate student council travel award, University of Illinois at Chicago 2010 & 2011

Graduate college presenter award, University of Illinois at Chicago 2010& 2011

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