Ratnayaka, J Arjuna - University of Southampton

个人简介

Dr Ratnayaka is a lecturer in Vision Sciences and brings together expertise in Retinal biology and Neurodegeneration. Dr Ratnayaka graduated from the University of Aberdeen. Following a Masters at Imperial College, London, he completed his PhD at the University of Liverpool where his work characterised the molecular/biochemical fate of a gene associated with Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). His work also investigated the intracellular trafficking of osteonectin/SPARC, a critical modulator in Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy (PVR). He extended his interests in degenerative biology in two successive research groups at King’s College, London and at the University of Sussex, where his postdoctoral work investigated axonal and synaptic mechanisms in the central nervous system. His work helped unravel the molecular pathways of neurotransmission by describing how shared vesicle pools may be utilized by neighbouring synapses, how extra-synaptic signalling occurs, and the manner in which distinct vesicle pools are modulated in synaptic plasticity. His group at Southampton investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying degenerative pathologies, with a particular focus on diseases of the retina. Currently, there are a number of exciting projects employing a range of cutting-edge techniques including ex-vivo and in-vivo disease modelling, live/ultrastructural imaging, molecular biology, histological and biochemical approaches. Dr Ratnayaka collaborates with scientists and clinicians from within and outside the University of Southampton, and networks with industrial partners as well as with patients/support groups. His portfolio includes teaching and mentoring activities across BSc, BMedSc, MSc, as well as PhD programmes in several Faculties. He is also involved in raising awareness of the implications of major degenerative diseases such as AMD and Alzheimer’s disease through public lectures, awareness days and education in schools.

研究领域

My group studies fundamental mechanisms of degenerative disorders at the level of molecules and cells. These include major diseases of the retina and brain such as Age-related Macular degeneration (AMD) which leads to irreversible blindness, and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) which is associated with dementia. Diseases of the retina and brain have complex aetiologies, but share striking similarities including impaired trafficking/transport processes, damaged intracellular organelles, misfolded proteins as well as common trigger mechanisms such as inflammation that can potentially initiate and/or sustain pathology. Collectively, these disorders contribute to a substantial proportion of major chronic diseases in the elderly, significantly impacting their quality of life in old age. Treatments for such conditions are typically non-existent or largely ineffective due to the complex nature of these diseases as well as a critical gap in our understanding of fundamental pathobiology. For example, VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) inhibitors form the current mainstay against neovascular AMD, but is only successful in managing the disease in a sub-group of AMD patients. In contrast, there is no effective treatment against the more common geographic form of AMD. With a rapidly aging population, this has created an urgent, and as yet unmet, need to understand the disease process, and help design/develop effective treatments for the future. There are a number of exciting projects which run in parallel and interlink under major research themes that employ a range of techniques. Some common methods used in our studies are: live-confocal imaging, ultrastructural techniques such as light-sheet, scanning block-face, TEM/SEM microscopy, ex-vivo and in-vivo disease modelling, molecular biology, histological as well as biochemical approaches.

近期论文

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The Alzheimer's-related amyloid beta peptide is internalised by R28 neuroretinal cells and disrupts the microtubule associated protein 2 (MAP-2) - Taylor-Walker, Georgia, Lynn, Savannah A, Keeling, Eloise, Munday, Rosie, Johnston, David, Page, Anton, Scott, Jennifer A., Goverdhan, Srinivas, Lotery, Andrew J. and Ratnayaka, Janaka Published:2016Publication:Experimental Eye ResearchVolume:153Page Range:110-121doi:10.1016/j.exer.2016.10.013 Dementia of the eye: the role of amyloid beta in retinal degeneration - Ratnayaka, J.A., Serpell, L.C. and Lotery, A.J. Published:2015Publication:EyePage Range:1-14doi:10.1038/eye.2015.100PMID:26088679 Recruitment of resting vesicles into recycling pools supports NMDA-receptor dependent synaptic potentiation in cultured hippocampal neurons - Ratnayaka, Arjuna, Marra, Vincenzo, Bush, Daniel, Burden, Jemima J., Branco, Tiago and Staras, Kevin Published:2012Publication:The Journal of PhysiologyVolume:590, (7)Page Range:1585-1597doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2011.226688PMID:22271866 Visualization of co-localization in A?42-administered neuroblastoma cells reveals lysosome damage and autophagosome accumulation related to cell death - Soura, Violetta, Stewart‑Parker, Maris, Williams, Thomas L., Ratnayaka, Arjuna, Atherton, Joe, Gorringe, Kirsti, Tuffin, Jack, Darwent, Elisabeth, Rambaran, Roma, Klein, William, Lacor, Pascale, Staras, Kevin, Thorpe, Julian and Serpell, Louise C. Published:2012Publication:Biochemical JournalVolume:441, (2)Page Range:579-590doi:10.1042/BJ20110749PMID:21955321