Kisha Sivanathan
Adelaide Medical School
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
I am developing new ways to transplant patients with stem cell therapies without the need for drugs. Growing specialized adult stem cells (mesenchymal stem ells, MSC obtained from the bone marrow) in the presence of a unique immune signaling protein (IL-17) has generated a “supercharged” stem cell with superior abilities to dampen immune responses in cell and organ transplant patients. The use of these MSC in transplant patients may significantly reduce the dose of anti-rejection drugs required to prevent cell and organ rejection. By minimizing the dose of drugs, I aim to eliminate the risk of developing infections and cancer in these patients. I am recipient of the 2018 NHMRC CJ Martin Overseas Early Career Fellowship. Currently, I am conducting my fellowship at the Harvard Medical School and the Brigham and Women's Hospital, United States of America. I am studying the role of inflammation on MSC in different disease models.
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2018 NHMRC CJ Martin Biomedical Postdoctoral Research Fellowship University of Adelaide 2018 Exchange Research Scholar Harvard Medical School 2017 - 2017 Postdoctoral Research Fellow University of Adelaide 2016 - 2017 Postdoctoral work Experience University of South Australia 2016 - 2016 University Research Associate University of Adelaide 2014 Young Investigator Committee Member Cell Transplant and Regenerative Medicine Society, The Transplantation Society 2010 - 2011 Research Assistant (Casual) University of Adelaide -
Awards and Achievements
Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount 2017 Award JDRF Australia 2017 Travel Grant Award Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Australia Australia AUD4000 2017 Nomination Nomination for the 2017 Fresh Science Award Fresh Science Australia — 2017 Award 2017 TSANZ Young Investigator Award Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) Australia AUD860.71 2017 Nomination Nominated for 2017 SA Science Excellence Awards – PhD Research Excellence Award Department of State Development, Government of South Australia Australia — 2017 Award Semi-finalist for the Channel 9 Young Achievers Award (Category: University of Adelaide Science and Technology) Channel 9 Young Achievers Award Australia — 2017 Nomination Nominated for the 2017 University of Adelaide Alumni Medal University of Adelaide Australia — 2016 Recognition Best Papers from 2016 Young Investigators by the Journal of Stem Cells and Top 3 Finalist for the Young Investigator Award Journal of Stem Cells United States — 2016 Award Dean’s Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence University of Adelaide Australia — 2016 Award School of Medicine Research Travel Award University of Adelaide Australia 3000 2016 Award Astellas Travel Award — — — 2016 Award Women’s Research Excellence Award University of Adelaide Australia AUD 5000 2015 Scholarship The Hospital Research Foundation Grant Funded Scholarship The Hospital Research Foundation Australia AUD 25,849 per annum 2015 Award The International Transplantation Science Mentee-Mentor Travel Awards The Transplantation Society Canada USD 800 2015 Award TSANZ President’s Prize Young Investigator travel grant Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) Australia AUD 900 2015 Award TSANZ Young Investigator Award Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand Australia AUD 780.92 2015 Award American Transplant Congress Young Investigator Award American Society of Transplant Surgeons and the American Society of Transplantation United States USD 1000 2015 Award Poster of Distinction American Society of Transplant Surgeons and The American Society of Transplantation United States — 2014 Award TSANZ Young Investigator Award Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand Australia AUD 701 2014 Award The International Transplantation Science Mentee-Mentor Travel Awards The Transplantation Society Canada USD 2000 2013 Award The Transplantation Society Young Investigator Travel Award The Transplantation Society Canada USD 2250 2012 Scholarship International Adelaide Graduate Research Scholarship (AGRS) University of Adelaide Australia 86697.50 2011 Award TSANZ Young Investigator award – Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) Australia AUD 551.10 2011 Award Rapamune Quiz Winner Pfizer Australia — 2011 Honour Golden Key International Honor Society Golden Key International Honor Society Australia — 2010 Scholarship The Robinson Institute Petrucco Honours Scholarship University of Adelaide Australia AUD 4000 2010 Scholarship The Robinson Institute Petrucco Honours Scholarship University of Adelaide Australia AUD 4000 2008 Achievement Certificate of Excellence, Australian Degree Transfer Program (Science) INTI International University, Malaysia Malaysia — 2008 Achievement Certificate of Merit, Australian Degree Transfer Program (Science) INTI International University, Malaysia Malaysia — 2007 Scholarship Merit Scholarship, INTI International University, Malaysia Malaysia — 2007 Achievement Certificate of Excellence, Australian Degree Transfer Program (Science) INTI International University, Malaysia Malaysia — 2005 Scholarship Merit Scholarlarhip INTI International University, Malaysia Malaysia — -
Language Competencies
Language Competency English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review Malay Can read, write, speak and understand spoken Tamil Can understand spoken -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2012 - 2016 University of Adelaide Australia PhD in Medicine 2010 - 2010 University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Health Science (Honours) - First Class 2009 Univeristy of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science) -
Postgraduate Training
Date Title Institution Country 2017 - 2017 University of Adelaide Career Development Program University of Adelaide Australia -
Research Interests
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Journals
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Conference Papers
Year Citation 2015 Lett, B., Sivanathan, K. N., Auclair, D., Johnston, J., Russell, C. H., Olakkengil, S., . . . Coates, P. T. (2015). Imaging of iron nano-particle labelled mesenchymal stem cells in ovine heterotopic kidney transplantation. In XENOTRANSPLANTATION Vol. 22 (pp. S25). Melbourne, AUSTRALIA: WILEY-BLACKWELL. 2015 Sivanathan, K., Canales, D. R., Hope, C., Gronthos, S., Grey, S., & Coates, P. T. (2015). Gene microarray comparative analysis of interferon-gamma and interleukin-17a preconditioned human mesenchymal stem cells. In XENOTRANSPLANTATION Vol. 22 (pp. S25). Melbourne, AUSTRALIA: WILEY-BLACKWELL. 2015 Lett, B., Sivanathan, K. N., Auclair, D., Johnston, J., Russell, C. H., Olakkengil, S., . . . Coates, P. T. (2015). IMAGING OF IRON NANO-PARTICLE LABELLED MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS IN OVINE HETEROTOPIC KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION.. In TRANSPLANTATION Vol. 99 (pp. S39). Melbourne, AUSTRALIA: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. 2015 Sivanathan, K., Rojas-Canales, D., Gronthos, S., Grey, S., & Coates, P. T. (2015). MICROARRAY GENE PROFILE STUDY OF IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE INTERLEUKIN-17A PREACTIVATED HUMAN MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS.. In TRANSPLANTATION Vol. 99 (pp. S48). Lorne, AUSTRALIA: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. 2015 Sivanathan, K., Rojas-Canales, D., Grey, S., Hope, C., Carroll, R., Gronthos, S., & Coates, P. (2015). Interleukin-17A Induced Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Are Superior Modulators of Immunological Function. In AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION Vol. 15 (pp. 1 page). Philadelphia, PA: WILEY-BLACKWELL. -
Conference Items
Year Citation 2012 Sivanathan, K., Hope, C., Krishnan, R., & Coates, P. (2012). IFN-gamma Preconditioning Enhance the Immunosuppressive Properties of Mesenchymal Stem Cells To Inhibit PHA-Activated T Cell Proliferation.. Poster session presented at the meeting of AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION. Boston, MA: WILEY-BLACKWELL. 2011 Sivanathan, K., Coates, P., & Krishnan, R. (2011). Proinflammatory cytokines modify the immunosuppressive property of mesenchymal stem cells to inhibit phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-induced T cell proliferation. Poster session presented at the meeting of Abstracts of the 47th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology, as published in Nephrology. Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide, South Australia: Wiley-Blackwell.
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Theses
Year Citation 2016 Sivanathan, K. N. (2016). Interleukin-17A induced human mesenchymal stem cells are superior modulators of immunological function. (PhD Thesis, University of Adelaide).
Feb 2018 - current: NHMRC CJ Martin Overseas Biomedical Early Career Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (CJ Martin) (AUD 417,193.32) - Grant ID: GNT1143655 - Institutions: Harvard Medical School (2yr) and University of Adelaide (2yr)
December 2017: JDRF International Postdoctoral Fellowship (USD 177,876) -Grant Key: 3-PDF-2018-589-A-N - *award declined due to acceptance of NHMRC CJ Martin Fellowship
November 2015: Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) Research Foundation 2016 Clinical Project Grant (AUD 50 000)
October 2015: The Hospital Research Foundation Grant Funded Scholarship (AUD 25,849 per annum)
August 2015: The Robinson Research Institute High Impact Paper Funding, University of Adelaide (AUD 2680.61)
May 2015: Special Purpose Fund (to attend the American Transplant Congress), Royal Adelaide Hospital (AUD 5000)
June 2014: The Walter Dorothy Duncan Trust Fund, University of Adelaide – Travel Grant (AUD 1500)
June 2013: The Walter Dorothy Duncan Trust Fund, University of Adelaide – Travel Grant (AUD 2200)
March 2012 - September 2015: International Adelaide Graduate Research Scholarship (AGRS), The University of Adelaide (full tuition and living allowances for 3.5 years – 2012: AUD23728; 2013: AUD24653; 2014: AUD25392; 2015: AUD25849 – TOTAL 86697.50) – awarded top 20 university-wide international student applicants
2010: The Robinson Institute Petrucco Honours Scholarship, University of Adelaide (AUD 4000) – awarded to top 6 international student applicants
January 2011: Loan repayment exemption for First Class Honours, National Higher Education Fund Corporation, Malaysia (RM 15 750.00 @ AUD4695.44)
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