Priyanga Ranasinghe

Priyanga Ranasinghe
Born (1982-11-20) November 20, 1982
OccupationsPhysician, clinical pharmacologist, academic, and researcher
Academic background
EducationM.B.B.S.
M.D.
Ph.D.
Alma materUniversity of Colombo
Academic work
InstitutionsUniversity of Colombo

Priyanga Ranasinghe (born November 20, 1982) is a physician, clinical pharmacologist, academic, and researcher. He is a professor in Pharmacology at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo.

Ranasinghe's research focuses on non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, as well as herbal medicines, and pharmacogenomics. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

Education

Ranasinghe completed his M.B.B.S. from the University of Colombo in 2008. Later, he received an M.D. (Medicine) and a Ph.D. in Clinical Pharmacology from the University of Colombo in 2018.[1]

Career

Ranasinghe joined the University of Colombo as a research associate in 2008, a position he held until 2009. From 2012 to 2018, he worked as a lecturer in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Colombo. Following this, he was then appointed as a senior lecturer in the same department from 2018 to 2019. Since 2019, he has been a professor at the University of Colombo.[1] During this time, he has been the head of the Department of Pharmacology[2] and chairperson of the Ethics Review Committee at the Faculty of Medicine.[3]

From 2021 to 2023, Ranasinghe served a specialty registrar in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Acute and General Medicine at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.[1] In 2022, he became a board certified specialist in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics in Sri Lanka.[4] He was the secretary of the Sri Lanka Association of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (SLACPT) from 2023 to 2024,[5] where he continues as a council member for the term 2025 to 2026.[6] He is also an Ambassador of the British Pharmacological Society (BPS).[7]

Research

Ranasinghe's research has focused on the risk factors of diabetes,[8] hypertension, and cardiovascular disease,[9] with attention to metabolic syndrome, which he identified as a rapidly growing public health concern in Asia.[10] His studies and clinical trials have demonstrated that zinc supplementation significantly improves metabolic health by reducing glycemic indices, such as postprandial glucose, fasting blood sugar, and HbA1c,[11] decreasing insulin resistance while increasing β-cell function, and lowering the progression from prediabetes to diabetes.[12] He further reported beneficial effects of zinc on lipid profiles in both healthy and non-healthy individuals.[13]

In addition, Ranasinghe explored the pharmacological potential of Cinnamomum verum (Ceylon Cinnamon), demonstrating its safety in healthy adults[14] and showing that its daily doses were well tolerated while providing metabolic benefits.[15] His experimental studies further showed that Cinnamomum zeylanicum extracts lowered blood glucose in diabetic models,[16] with stem bark fractions also effective in managing type 2 diabetes mellitus.[17] Beyond metabolic research, he examined irrational drug use, demonstrating the need for corrective measures to promote rational prescribing,[18] and emphasized that producing data on frequently prescribed medicines throughout the health system supports better health management and enhances outcome-based medical education.[19]

Ranasinghe has also conducted research on improving hypertension prevention,[20] detection,[21] and noted that new therapies targeting biological mechanisms could enhance long-term treatment outcomes.[22] His studies also examined CYP2C19 and CES1 gene variants influencing clopidogrel metabolism in Sri Lankan populations, highlighting the impact of genetic variation on antiplatelet efficacy.[23] His work also reflects broader pharmacogenomic principles, emphasizing how genetic variability contributes to differences in the efficacy and safety of therapeutic agents, including anti-cancer drugs.[24] He has reported that certain minor allele frequencies may elevate the risk of statin-induced myotoxicity, supporting his work on genotype-phenotype correlations in statin-treated Sri Lankan patients.[25] He has been named in the Stanford/Elsevier World's Top 2% Scientists list in 2022, 2023, and 2024.[26]

Awards and honors

  • 2014 – CVCD Lifetime Research Excellence Award in Health Sciences, University of Colombo[27]
  • 2020 – Senate Award for Research Excellence, University of Colombo[28]
  • 2022 – Vice Chancellor's Award for Research Excellence, University of Colombo[29]
  • 2024 – Fellow, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh[30]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Professor Priyanga Ranasinghe". University of Colombo. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  2. ^ "Department of Pharmacology – Staff". University of Colombo. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  3. ^ "ERC Committee Members". University of Colombo. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  4. ^ "PGIM Board Certified Specialists as at 2025-10-04". Postgraduate Institute of Medicine. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  5. ^ "SLACPT COUNCIL 2023/2024" (PDF). Sri Lanka Association of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  6. ^ "About Us". Sri Lanka Association of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  7. ^ "Meet the Ambassadors". British Pharmacological Society. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  8. ^ Anjana, Ranjit Mohan; Deepa, Mohan; Pradeepa, Rajendra; Mahanta, Jagadish; Narain, Kanwar; Das, Hiranya Kumar; Adhikari, Prabha; Rao, Paturi Vishnupriya; Saboo, Banshi; Kumar, Ajay; Bhansali, Anil; John, Mary; Luaia, Rosang; Reang, Taranga; Ningombam, Somorjit; Jampa, Lobsang; Budnah, Richard O; Elangovan, Nirmal; Subashini, Radhakrishnan; Venkatesan, Ulagamathesan; Unnikrishnan, Ranjit; Das, Ashok Kumar; Madhu, Sri Venkata; Ali, Mohammed K; Pandey, Arvind; Dhaliwal, Rupinder Singh; Kaur, Tanvir; Swaminathan, Soumya; Mohan, Viswanathan (2017). "Prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes in 15 states of India: results from the ICMR-INDIAB population-based cross-sectional study". Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. 5 (8): 585–596. doi:10.1016/S2213-8587(17)30174-2. PMID 28601585.
  9. ^ Cai, Yuanyuan; Zhang, Bo; Ke, Weixia; Feng, Baixiang; Lin, Hualiang; Xiao, Jianpeng; Zeng, Weilin; Li, Xing; Tao, Jun; Yang, Zuyao; Ma, Wenjun; Liu, Tao (July 2016). "Associations of Short-Term and Long-Term Exposure to Ambient Air Pollutants With Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis". Hypertension. 68 (1): 62–70. doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.116.07218. PMID 27245182 – via PubMed.
  10. ^ Zhang, Chen-Hao; Cheng, Yifei; Zhang, Shu; Fan, Jia; Gao, Qiang (2022). "Changing epidemiology of hepatocellular carcinoma in Asia". Review Liver Int. 42 (9): 2029–2041. doi:10.1111/liv.15251. PMID 35319165 – via PubMed.
  11. ^ Chen, Bonan; Yu, Peiyao (2024). "Cellular zinc metabolism and zinc signaling: from biological functions to diseases and therapeutic targets". Signal Transduct Target Ther. 9 (1): 6. doi:10.1038/s41392-023-01679-y. PMC 10761908. PMID 38169461 – via PMC.
  12. ^ Blonde, Lawrence; Umpierrez, Guillermo E; Sethu Reddy, S; McGill, Janet B; Berga, Sarah L; Bush, Michael; Chandrasekaran, Suchitra; DeFronzo, Ralph A; Einhorn, Daniel; Galindo, Rodolfo J; Gardner, Thomas W; et al. (2022). "American Association of Clinical Endocrinology Clinical Practice Guideline: Developing a Diabetes Mellitus Comprehensive Care Plan–2022 Update". Endocrine Practice. 28 (10): 923–1049. doi:10.1016/j.eprac.2022.08.002. PMC 10200071. PMID 35963508 – via PubMed.
  13. ^ Knez, Marija; Glibetic, Marija (2021). "Zinc as a Biomarker of Cardiovascular Health". Frontiers in Nutrition. 8 686078. doi:10.3389/fnut.2021.686078. PMC 8360846. PMID 34395491.
  14. ^ Shang, Chang; Lin, Hongchen; Fang, Xuqin; Wang, Yuling; Jiang, Zhilin; Qu, Yi; Xiang, Mi; Shen, Zihuan; Xin, Laiyun; Lu, Yingdong; Gao, Jialiang; Cui, Xiangning (2021). "Beneficial effects of cinnamon and its extracts in the management of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes". Food & Function. 12 (24): 12194–12220. doi:10.1039/d1fo01935j. PMID 34752593.
  15. ^ Suriyagoda, Lalith; Janaki Mohotti, Anoma; Vidanarachchi, Janak K.; Kodithuwakku, Suranga P.; Chathurika, Madushani; Bandaranayake, Pradeepa C. G.; Hetherington, Alistair M. (2021). ""Ceylon cinnamon": Much more than just a spice". Plants, People, Planet. 3 (4): 319–336. Bibcode:2021PlPP....3..319S. doi:10.1002/ppp3.10192. hdl:1983/3e7af5bd-c4fd-4939-abe6-d908da1dbf4a.
  16. ^ Keddagoda, Gamage Piyumi Wasana; Attanayake, Anoja Priyadarshani; Jayatilaka, Kamani Ayoma Perera Wijewardana; Weerarathna, Thilak Priyantha (2021). "Antidiabetic Activity of Widely Used Medicinal Plants in the Sri Lankan Traditional Healthcare System: New Insight to Medicinal Flora in Sri Lanka". Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021 6644004. doi:10.1155/2021/6644004. PMC 7886531. PMID 33628307.
  17. ^ Pandey, Sudip; Pant, Poonam (2023). "Possibilities and challenges for harnessing tree bark extracts for wood adhesives and green chemicals and its prospects in Nepal". Listen. 19 (1): 68–77. Bibcode:2023ForST..19...68P. doi:10.1080/21580103.2023.2175729.
  18. ^ Manirakiza, Audace; Nyamu, David Gitonga; Maru, Shital Mahindra; Bizimana, Thomas; Nimpagaritse, Manassé (2024). "Evaluating drug use patterns among paediatric outpatients in Burundi". Research Article. 17 2312369. doi:10.1080/20523211.2024.2312369. PMID 38444527 – via CrossRef.
  19. ^ Alwis, Inosha; Rajapaksha, Buwanaka; Jayasanka, Chanuka; Dharmaratne, Samath D (2024). "Morbidity profile and pharmaceutical management of adult outpatients between primary and tertiary care levels in Sri Lanka: a dual-centre, comparative study". BMC Primary Care. 25 (1): 200. doi:10.1186/s12875-024-02448-8. PMC 11155019. PMID 38844839.
  20. ^ Essa, Enatnesh; Shitie, Dessalegn; Yirsaw, Mesenbet Terefe; Wale, Mengistu Zelalem (2022). "Undiagnosed hypertension and associated factors among adults in Debre Markos town, North-West Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study". SAGE Open Medicine. 10 20503121221094223: 3389–3410. doi:10.1177/20503121221094223. ISSN 2050-3121. PMC 9087240. PMID 35558191.
  21. ^ Mahapatra, Rima; Kaliyappan, Anupriya; Chinnakali, Palanivel; Hanumanthappa, Nandeesha; Govindarajalou, Ramkumar; Bammigatti, Chanaveerappa (2021). "Prevalence and Risk Factors for Resistant Hypertension: Cross-Sectional Study From a Tertiary Care Referral Hospital in South India". Cureus. 13 (10) e18779. doi:10.7759/cureus.18779. PMC 8590471. PMID 34796068.
  22. ^ Pu, Fay; Liu, Yanrong; Ahmed, Fozia Zahir; Wang, Xin; Green, Darren; Zhang, Hongyuan (2025). "Advancing antihypertensive drug development". British Journal of Pharmacology. 182 (15): 3389–3410. doi:10.1111/bph.70063. PMID 40457766 – via Open Access.
  23. ^ Rehman, Shafee Ur; Abbas, Ghulam H. M. (August 29, 2025). "Human genetic diversity across South Asian populations: A systematic review and meta-analysis". Medicine. 104 (35) e44147. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000044147. PMC 12401239. PMID 40898550.
  24. ^ Al-Mahrouqi, Nahad; Al Shuaili, Nada; Al-Zadjali, Shoaib; Pullanhi, Anoopa; Al-Barwani, Hamida; Al-Kindy, Aida; Al-Sharqi, Hadeel; Al-Baimani, Khalid; Al-Moundhri, Mansour; Salman, Bushra (17 May 2025). "Pharmacogenetic Profiling of Genes Associated with Outcomes of Chemotherapy in Omani Healthy Controls". Genes. 16 (5): 592. doi:10.3390/genes16050592. PMC 12110867. PMID 40428413.
  25. ^ Fernando, Kavindya; Fernando, Nilshan; Welhenge, Chiranthi; Liyanage, Shashima; Dayanath, B. K. T. P.; De Silva, Shamila; Mettananda, Chamila (2025). "Efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of 40 mg versus 80 mg atorvastatin in a Sri Lankan cohort with acute coronary syndrome: a protocol for a single-centre randomised controlled clinical trial". Trials. 26 (1) 326: Article 326. doi:10.1186/s13063-025-08943-2. PMC 12403426. PMID 40890828.
  26. ^ "Ranasinghe, Priyanga". World's Top 2% Scientists. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  27. ^ "Highlights 2014" (PDF). Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  28. ^ "Senate Awards 2020 General Category" (PDF). The Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  29. ^ "Vice Chancellor's Awards for Research Excellence 2022". University of Colombo. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  30. ^ "Directory of Fellows and Collegiate Members". Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
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