Dr Prabha Andraweera
Lecturer and Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Adelaide Medical School
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.
Dr. Prabha Andraweera obtained her medical degree (MBBS) from the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2001. She obtained her PhD from the University of Adelaide, Australia in 2012. She is currently a lecturer and a postdoctoral research fellow at the Robinson Research Institute and the Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide.
- My Research
- Career
- Publications
- Grants and Funding
- Teaching
- Supervision
- Professional Activities
- Contact
Research Projects
Genetic and environmental risk for pregnancy complications and subsequent metabolic syndrome
Women who experience adverse pregnancy outcomes including preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, those who deliver small for gestational age babies and those who deliver preterm are at increased risk of coronary artery disease in later life. Dr. Andraweera’s current research focuses on identifying risk factors for coronary artery disease subsequent to pregnancy complications and in exploring gene-environmental interactions that influence both pregnancy complications and subsequent coronary artery disease.
Intrauterine determinants of early life risk for subsequent cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in Australia and world-wide. The intrauterine environment plays a critical role in health after birth and previous research has shown that children born after complicated pregnancies are at increased risk for CVD in adult life. We are at present investigating intrauterine adverse conditions that associate with CVD risk factors in children.
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2019 Lecturer and Postdoctoral Research Fellow Adelaide Medical School 2015 - 2018 NHMRC Peter Doherty BioMedical Fellow University of Adelaide, Adelaide 2014 - 2015 Postdoctoral Fellow The University of Adelaide 2013 - 2014 Visiting Research Fellow The University of Adelaide 2012 - 2013 Lecturer Faculty of Medicine, The University of Colombo 2008 - 2012 PhD Candidate The University of Adelaide 2006 - 2008 Lecturer The University of Colombo -
Awards and Achievements
Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount 2015 Recognition Certificate of excellence as a reviewer Molecular Human Reproduction — — 2014 Award Robinson Institute Prize for the best oral presentation in reproductive health, pregnancy and child health Annual Scientific Conference of the Australian Society for Medical Research — — 2013 Recognition Certificate of excellence as a reviewer Molecular Human Reproduction — — 2012 Award Dean’s Commendation for excellence of the Doctoral thesis The University of Adelaide — — 2011 Award Best Poster Award Annual Scientific Meeting of Robinson Research Institute — — 2011 Award Best Poster Award The University of Adelaide — — 2010 Award Frederick P Zuspan Award International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy and the Perinatal Society of USA — — 2010 Award ISSHP Young Investigator Travel Award International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy — — -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2008 - 2012 The University of Adelaide Australia PhD 1995 - 2001 The University of Colombo Sri Lanka MBBS
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Journals
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Book Chapters
Year Citation 2018 Andraweera, P., Dekker, G., Arstall, M., Bianco-Miotto, T., & Roberts, C. (2018). Complications of pregnancy and future cardiovascular risk. In R. Vasan, & D. Sawyer (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Cardiovascular Research and Medicine (Vol. 1, pp. 643-650). Netherlands: Oxford:Elsevier Inc. -
Conference Papers
Year Citation 2018 Andraweera, P., Roberts, C., Leemaqz, S., McCowan, L., Myers, J., Kenny, L., . . . Dekker, G. (2018). THE DURATION OF SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP AND ITS EFFECTS ON ADVERSE PREGNANCY OUTCOMES. In PLACENTA Vol. 69 (pp. E61-E62). Tokyo, JAPAN: W B SAUNDERS CO LTD. 2018 Andraweera, P., Dekker, G., Leemaqz, S., McCowan, L., Myers, J., Kenny, L., . . . Roberts, C. (2018). MATERNAL BIRTHWEIGHT, EARLY PREGNANCY BODY MASS INDEX AND RISK OF PREGNANCY COMPLICATIONS. In PLACENTA Vol. 69 (pp. E5). Tokyo, JAPAN: W B SAUNDERS CO LTD. 2018 Roberts, C. T., Mayne, B., Leemaqz, S., McAninch, D., Breen, J., Andraweera, P., & Bianco-Miotto, T. (2018). PLACENTAL NON-CODING RNA EXPRESSION CHANGES DYNAMICALLY ACROSS GESTATION. In PLACENTA Vol. 69 (pp. E2). Tokyo, JAPAN: W B SAUNDERS CO LTD. 2015 Andraweera, P. H., Gatford, K., Dekker, G., Leemaqz, S., McCowan, L., & Roberts, C. (2015). Insulin family gene polymorphisms in pregnancies complicated by small for gestational age infants. In Proceedings of the Annual Scientific Sessions of the Australian Society for Medical Research-SA meeting. Adelaide, Australia. 2014 Andraweera, P., Dekker, G., Jajasekara, R., Dissanayake, V., & Roberts, C. (2014). A study of ninety eight single nucleotide polymorphisms in recurrent spontaneous miscarriage.. In Proceedings of the Annual Scientific Sessions of the Australian Society for Medical Research-SA meeting. Adelaide, Australia. 2012 Andraweera, P. H., Dekker., Thompson, S. D., Zhang, V. J., & Roberts, C. T. (2012). Association of maternal, paternal and fetal single nucleotide polymorphisms in vascular endothelial growth factor family genes with preeclampsia. In Pregnancy Hypertension Vol. 1. Melbourne, Australia. 2012 Andraweera, P. H., Dekker., Dissanayaye, V. H. W., Jayasekara, R. W., & Roberts, C. T. (2012). Candidate gene association study on recurrent pregnancy loss in a Sinhalese population from in Sri Lanka. In Proceedings of the Human Genome Meeting, March 2012. Sydney, Australia. 2012 Andraweera, P. H., Dekker., Dissanayake, V. H. W., Jayasekara, R. W., & Roberts, C. T. (2012). A candidate gene association study on preeclampsia in Sinhalese women. In Proceedings of the Human Genome Meeting. Sydney, Australia. 2011 Andraweera, P., Dekker., Thompson, S., North, R., McCowan, L., & Roberts, C. (2011). Single nucleotide polymorphisms in angiogenesis regulating genes and the risk of preeclampsia and small for gestational age birth. In Proceedings of the 12th International Congress of Human Genetics. Montreal, Canada. 2010 Andraweera, P. H., Dekker., Thompson, S. D., McCowan, L. M. E., North, R. A., & Roberts, C. T. (2010). Association of single nucleotide polymorphism in the vascular endothelial growth factor gene with small for gestational age birth. In Pregnancy Hypertension Vol. 1. Melbourne, Australia: Elsevier BV. 2010 Andraweera, P. H., Nowak, R. C., Thompson, S. D., Dissanayake, V. H. W., Jayasekara, R. W., & Roberts, C. T. (2010). Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in cytokine genes with preeclampsia in a Sinhalese population from Sri Lanka. In Pregnancy Hypertension Vol. 1. Melbourne, Australia: Elsevier BV. 2010 Andraweera, P. H., Dekker., Thompson, S. D., Dissanayake, V. H. W., Jayasekara, R. W., & Roberts, C. T. (2010). Insulin like growth factor family genes and the risk of preeclampsia in a Sinhalese population from Sri Lanka. In Pregnancy Hypertension Vol. 1. Melbourne, Australia: Elsevier BV. 2010 Andraweera, P., Furness, D., Thompson, S., Nowak, R., Dissanayake, V., Jayasekara, R., . . . Roberts, C. (2010). Single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes regulating inflammation and the risk of recurrent pregnancy loss in a Sinhalese population from Sri Lanka. In JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY Vol. 86 (pp. 50). Palm Grove, AUSTRALIA: ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD.
2010 Andraweera, P., Nowak, R., Thompson, S., Furness, D., Dissanayake, V., Jayasekara, R., . . . Roberts, C. (2010). Single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes modulating inflammation and the risk of preeclampsia in a Sinhalese population from Sri Lanka. In JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY Vol. 86 (pp. 63). Palm Grove, AUSTRALIA: ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD.
2009 Andraweera, P., Thompson, S., Zhang, V., Nowak, R., Dekker, G., & Roberts, C. (2009). Maternal, paternal and fetal single nucleotide polymorphisms in vascular endothelial growth factor family genes associate with pregnancy complications. In AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY Vol. 201 (pp. S13). Chicago, IL: MOSBY-ELSEVIER.
WoS22009 Andraweera, P. H., Thompson, S. D., Nowak, R. C., Zhang, V. J., Dekker., & Roberts, C. T. (2009). Single nucleotide polymorphisms in angiogenesis regulating genes are associated with pregnancy complications. In Placenta Vol. 30. Adelaide, Australia: W. B. Saunders Co., Ltd.. -
Conference Items
| Year | Granting body | Title | Name | Amount |
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| 2019-2020 | Robinson Research Institute Investment for Success | Improving maternal and child health in a socially disadvantaged population | Prabha Andraweera, Claire Roberts, Margaret Arstall, Gus Dekker, Shalem Leemaqz, Zohra Lassi | $30,000 |
| 2019-2020 | Robinson Research Institute Innovative Seed Funding | Devising a clinical audit tool to capture local needs and capabilities regarding adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) in Katakwi District of Uganda | Zohra Lassi, Zeshi Fisher, Alice Rumbold, Prabha Andraweera, Claire Roberts | $25,000 |
| 2015 - 2018 | NHMRC Peter Doherty BioMedical Fellowship |
Genetic and environmental risk for pregnancy complications and subsequent metabolic syndrome |
Prabha Andraweera | $339,436 |
| 2018-2019 | Robinson Research Institute Innovative Seed Funding | Effectiveness of a post-partum intervention to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease after pregnancy complications | Prabha Andraweera, Margaret Arstall, Zohra Lassi, Claire Roberts | $25,000 |
| 2018-2019 | Robinson Research Institute Engaging Opportunities Grant | Designing a high quality evaluative research plan for Birthing Kits Foundation Australia Community Development Project in Uganda | Zohra Lassi, Alice Rumbold, Prabha Andraweera, Zeshi Fisher, Claire Roberts | $8655 |
| 2016 - 2017 | Channel 7 Children's Research Foundation ECR project grant | Genetic and early life determinants of childhood obesity | Prabha Andraweera, Claire Roberts, Gus Dekker, Ben Mol, John Lynch | $35,000 |
| 2016-2017 | Robinson Research Institute Engaging Opportunities Grant | Evaluation of BKFA birthing kits effectiveness and impact in improving outcomes for women and babies in developing countries | Claire Roberts, Prabha Andraweera, Zohra Lassi, Sarah Robertson | $3600 |
| 2015-2016 | Robinson Research Institute Innovative Seed Funding |
Identifying molecular pathways in the placenta that are implicated in the link between pregnancy complications and subsequent coronary artery disease |
Prabha Andraweera, Hannah Brown, Tina Bianco-Miotto | $25,000 |
| 2008-2012 | Australian Leadership Award (AusAid) | PhD scholarship | Prabha Andraweera | $300,000 |
Lecturer, Clinical Skills and Simulation, BHlthMedSc (Advanced) - HLTH SC 1006
Lecturer, Infant, Child and Adolescent Health - HLTH SC 3013
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Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2019 Co-Supervisor Assessing the Influence of Pregnancy and its Complications on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Adeel Akbar Khoja 2018 Co-Supervisor Antenatal Antecedents of Maternal and Child Health Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Maleesa Melanie Pathirana 2017 Co-Supervisor Pregnancy Complications and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Michelle Desley Plummer -
Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2016 - 2019 Co-Supervisor The impact of intrauterine exposures on neurodevelopmental outcomes in 8–10 year old children within a disadvantaged population Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Amy Jade Alice Garrett -
Other Supervision Activities
Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name 2018 - ongoing Principal Supervisor Risk factors for cardiovascular disease among those born preterm-systematic review and meta analysis The University of Adelaide — Other Part Time Bradley Condon 2018 - ongoing Principal Supervisor Risk factors for cardiovascular disease among those born preterm-systematic review and meta analysis The University of Adelaide — Other — Gemma Collett 2018 - ongoing Principal Supervisor Risk factors for cardiovascular disease among those born preterm-systematic review and meta analysis The University of Adelaide — Other — Stefania Gentilcore
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Committee Memberships
Date Role Committee Institution Country 2017 - ongoing Council Australia and New Zealand Society for the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) — Australia
Connect With Me
External Profiles
