Mrs. Janarthani Arulnathan

Janarthani Lohitharajah is an organized and friendly professional. She is an energetic and passionate teacher and a researcher with competency in molecular diagnostics. She graduated from Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura in 2010 and currently doing her Master of Philosophy in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo. She has published research articles in indexed journals. She also presented her research findings in several scientific conferences and have received awards. Janarthani started her carrier as an academic in 2011 and has joined Eastern University in 2014. She was born and studied in Batticaloa and she is a past pupil of BT/Vincent Girls’ National School.

• Google Scholar
  https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=fud_onsAAAAJ&hl=en
• ResearchGate
  https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Janarthani_Lohitharajah2

Publications in indexed journals

1. Janarthani Lohitharajah, Gathsaurie Neelika Malavige, Anthony Jin Shun Chua, Mah Lee Ng, Carukshi Arembepola, Thashi Chang. Emergence of human West Nile virus infection in Sri Lanka. BMC Infectious Diseases (2015) 15:305; DOI 10.1186/s12879-015-1040-7.
2. J Lohitharajah, G N Malavige, A Wijewickrama, A Ambagawita, A L P Senaviratne, G Ogg. Molecular characterisation of varicella zoster virus genotypes in Sri Lanka. Ceylon Medical Journal 2013; 58: 153-6.

Communication to Learned Societies

1. Janarthani Lohitharajah, Gathsaurie Neelika Malavige, Carukshi Arembepola, Ranjanie Gamage, Padma Gunaratne, Jithangi Wanigasinghe, Pyara Ratnayake, Thashi Chang. “Viral aetiologies of acute encephalitis in a hospital–based population in Sri Lanka”. 17th International Congress on Infectious Diseases – March 2016, Hyderabad, India.
2. Janarthani Lohitharajah, Gathsaurie Neelika Malavige, Carukshi Arembepola, Ranjanie Gamage, Padma Gunaratne, Jithangi Wanigasinghe, Pyara Ratnayake, Thashi Chang. “Viral aetiologies of acute encephalitis in a hospital–based population in Sri Lanka”. 9th Annual academic session of Association of Sri Lankan Neurologists – November 2015, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
3. T Chang, T Moloney, LW Jacobson, GN Malavige, J Lohitharajah, J Wanigasinghe, S Peach, M Woodhall, P Waters, A Vincent. “Autoantibody-associated autoimmune encephalitis in Sri Lanka”. 9th Annual academic session of Association of Sri Lankan Neurologists – November 2015.
4. T Chang, T Moloney, LW Jacobson, GN Malavige, J Lohitharajah, J Wanigasinghe, S Peach, M Woodhall, P Waters, A Vincent. “Autoantibody -associated autoimmune encephalitis in Sri Lankan patients”. 22nd World congress of neurology, September 2015, Santiago, Chile.
5. Janarthani Lohitharajah, Thashi Chang, Gathsaurie Neelika Malavige, C Arembepola, Ng Mah Lee. “Encephalitis due to flavivirus infection in Sri Lanka”. International conference on dengue viral infections, 20th-22nd September 2013, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
6. Janarthani Lohitharajah, Gathsaurie Neelika Malavige, L T Rohanachandra, G P Karunasekara, A L P Seneviratne, Graham Ogg. “Molecular characterization of varicella zoster virus strains in Sri Lanka”. Annual scientific session of Batticaloa Medical Association, 12th -13th August 2013.
7. Janarthani Lohitharajah, Gathsaurie Neelika Malavige, S Sivayogan, Graham Ogg. Cultural practices adopted in managing chicken pox in Sri Lanka. Annual Scientific sessions of Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, November 2010.
8. Janarthani Lohitharajah, Gathsaurie Neelika Malavige, L T Rohanachandra, G P Karunasekara, A L P Seneviratne, Graham Ogg. “Molecular characterization of varicella zoster virus strains in Sri Lanka”. 123rd Annual Scientific Sessions of Sri Lanka Medical Association, May/June 2010.

• Viral infections, Antimicrobial resistance

MBBS:

• PP 01: Organism causing diseases
• PP 04: Immunopathology
• PP 05: Parasitic infections of public health importance 1
• PP 06: Parasitic infections of public health importance 2
• PP 11: Disorders of Gastrointestinal system & accessory organs
• PH 04: Communicable diseases 1
• PH 05: Communicable diseases 2

B.Sc. Nursing:

• NUR 1208: Microbiology and Parasitology
• NUR 1209: Aetiopathogenesis of human diseases

Academic distinctions:

• B.Sc special Human biology – Part II : Distinction in Microbiology
• B.Sc special Human biology – Part III : Distinction in Microbiology

Research awards:

1. Best oral presentation - ‘Viral aetiologies of acute encephalitis in a hospital–based population in Sri Lanka’. 9th Annual academic session of Association of Sri Lankan Neurologists, 2015.
2. Best poster - Runner up – ‘Autoantibody-associated autoimmune encephalitis in Sri Lanka’. 9th Annual academic session of Association of Sri Lankan Neurologists, 2015.
3. Best oral presentation – Runner up - ‘Molecular characterization of varicella zoster virus strains in Sri Lanka’. Annual scientific session of Batticaloa Medical Association, 2013.

Travel grants:

• Received travel grant from Rotary Global grant for advanced molecular training at University of Western Australia, Perth Australia.

• Member, Sport Advisory Committee 2015/16

Professional Memberships

• Member of International society for infectious diseases
• Certified Epicore member