Miruna

Dr. Miruna Rabindrakumar

Senior Lecturer

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Dr. Miruna Rabindrakumar is a Senior Lecturer attached to the Department of Biomedical Science at the Faculty of Science, NSBM. She obtained her PhD in the field of Biochemistry & Molecular biology from Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo. Her educational background includes MSc in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, at the Faculty of Medicine, Colombo and BSc Biotechnology with first-class honours from the University of Pune, India.

Dr. Miruna served as a researcher at the Faculty of Medicine Colombo and was a visiting lecturer at a reputed private institute during her service of four years in academia. She has awarded National Science Foundation (NSF) postgraduate research scholarship and received travel awards from the International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS) and NSF, for her PhD study. She also possesses hands-on training on Bioanalytical method validation and basic techniques of LC-MS/MS & HPLC offered by Dabur Research Foundation, India. Further, she obtained professional training on “Safe use of Radiation Sources in Industry and Research” conducted by the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Regulatory Council and Nutrition Research Methodology conducted by the Nutrition Society of Sri Lanka.

Research Interests

  • Nutritional biochemistry
  • Maternal and Child nutrition
  • Nutrigenomics and genetic polymorphisms related to metabolic pathways

Memberships

  • Life member of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science
  • Life member of the Nutrition Society Sri Lanka
  • An associated member of the College of Biochemist Sri Lanka
  • Council member of the Sri Lankan Academy of Young Scientist (SLAYS)
  • Full member of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), Sri Lanka.

Journal Publications

  1. Abeywickrama, H.L.T.C., Rabindrakumar, M.S.K., Pathira Kankanamge, L.S., Thoradeniya, T. and Galhena, G.H. (2022). TMPRSS6 rs855791 polymorphism is associated with iron deficiency in a cohort of Sri Lankan pregnant women. Egyptian Journal of Medical Human Genetics, 23(1), pp.1-10.
  2. Rabindrakumar, M.S.K., Wickramasinghe, V.P., Arambepola, C., Senanayake, H., Karunaratne, V. and Thoradeniya, T. (2021). Baseline iron and low-grade inflammation modulate the effectiveness of iron supplementation: evidence from follow-up of pregnant Sri Lankan women. European Journal of Nutrition, 60(2), pp.1101-1109.
  3. Rabindrakumar, M.S.K., Wickramasinghe, V.P., Gooneratne, L., Arambepola, C., Senanayake, H. and Thoradeniya, T. (2018). The role of haematological indices in predicting early iron deficiency among pregnant women in an urban area of Sri Lanka. BMC Hematology, 18(1), p.37.
     

Conference (Abstract Publications)

  1. M.S.K. Rabindrakumar, S. Jayasena, P. Wickramasinghe, V. Karunaratne and T. Thoradeniya. A 19bp deletion polymorphism in dihydrofolate reductase is associated with decreased 5-formyltetrahydrofolate in pregnant Sri Lankan women. Micronutrient forum connected 5th Global conference 2020. Abs P19.12. (Poster presentation).
  2. M.S.K. Rabindrakumar, P. Wickramasinghe, V. Karunaratne and T. Thoradeniya. Iron folic acid and vitamin A supplementation during pregnancy in Sri Lanka; is it the time for revival? 27th FAOBMB International Conference & 44th Annual MSBMB Convention, 19-22nd August 2019, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Abs OralCS16-4. (Oral presentation).
  3. M.S.K. Rabindrakumar, B. Umayal, S. Jayasena, P. Wickramasinghe, V. Karunaratne and T. Thoradeniya. Low dietary folate intake predisposes to low folate stores in women with DHFR 19-bp deletion despite folic acid supplementation. Asian Symposium on Medicinal Plants, Species and other Natural Products XVI (AXOMPS XVI), 12th – 14th December 2018, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Abs. OL040. (Oral presentation).
  4. M.S.K. Rabindrakumar, P. Wickramasinghe, V. Karunaratne and T. Thoradeniya. Multiple micronutrient deficiencies among women attending MOH Clinics in Colombo Municipal Area at Early Pregnancy. College of Biochemists of Sri Lanka, 1st Bi-annual Conference, 26th October 2018, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Abs. OP 01. (Oral presentation).
  5. M.S.K. Rabindrakumar, S. Jayasena, P. Wickramasinghe and T. Thoradeniya. Pregnant women with MTHFR C677>T polymorphism require a higher dietary folate intake to maintain adequate folate levels despite folic acid supplementation. 131st Anniversary International Medical Congress, Sri Lanka medical association (SLMA), 26th -29th July 2018, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Abs. OP 065. (Oral presentation).
  6. M.S.K. Rabindrakumar, P. Wickramasinghe and T. Thoradeniya. Is serum retinol a misleading biomarker for assessment of vitamin A adequacy in pregnant women? 4th International Conference on Public health (ICOPH), 19th – 21st July 2018, Bangkok, Thailand. Abs. OP 84. (Oral presentation).
  7. T. Thoradeniya, M.S.K. Rabindrakumar, P. Wickramasinghe and V. Karunaratne. Iron supplementation does not improve iron status in pregnant women in Sri Lanka: A crucial role for innovative strategies for National iron supplementation. 24th IUBMB Congress & 15th FAOBMB Congress, 4th – 8th June 2018, Seoul, Korea. Abs. P14-072. (Poster presentation).
  8. M.S.K. Rabindrakumar, P. Wickramasinghe, V. Karunaratne and T. Thoradeniya. Impact of folic acid supplementation during pregnancy on the folate status of Urban Sri Lankan mothers and their offspring. South Asian Biotechnology Conference (SABC), 28th – 30th March 2018, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Abs. OP55. (Oral presentation).
  9. M.S.K. Rabindrakumar, P. Wickramasinghe, V. Karunaratne and T. Thoradeniya. Micronutrient status and diet quality of urban Sri Lankan women in early pregnancy. Annual Scientific Sessions of the Nutrition Society of Sri Lanka, 27th – 28th January 2018, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Abs-pp.9 (Oral presentation).
  10. M.S.K. Rabindrakumar, P. Wickramasinghe, C. Arambepola, V. Karunaratne and T. Thoradeniya. Effect of maternal weight and gestational weight gain on low-grade inflammation during pregnancy. IUNS 21st International Congress of Nutrition, 15th – 20th October 2017, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Abs. 144/1455. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, 71(Suppl. 2), pp.967. (Poster presentation).
  11. M.S.K. Rabindrakumar, L.V. Gooneratne, P. Wickramasinghe, C. Arambepola and H. Senanayake, T. Thoradeniya. The role of red cell indices as a screening tool for iron deficiency. 130th Anniversary International Medical Congress, Sri Lanka medical association (SLMA), 13th – 16th July 2017, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Abs. PP 118. (Poster presentation).
  12. M.S.K. Rabindrakumar, S.T. Thoradeniya and V.P. Wickramasinghe. Iron depletion in early pregnancy in urban Sri Lankan women: Warrants Urgent Attention. 25th FAOBMB International Conference.

Ongoing Research

  1. Anti-cancer properties of medicinal plants
  2. Iron intake and inflammation in pregnancy

  3. Genetic variants of kappa-casein and its association with bovine milk constituents, performance, and technological properties.