Shamini V De Silva Email and Phone Number

Intern on the WONDER track: - Utilized CDC’s Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) Database to develop core data skills in querying, entering, cleaning, enhancing, analyzing, visualizing, and humanizing.- Timely completion of data entry, quality assurance, and data visualization tasks.- Produced data-guided presentations and infographics, for an assigned US state, targeted at helpingstakeholders and policymakers make informed decisions on reducing… Show more Intern on the WONDER track: - Utilized CDC’s Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) Database to develop core data skills in querying, entering, cleaning, enhancing, analyzing, visualizing, and humanizing.- Timely completion of data entry, quality assurance, and data visualization tasks.- Produced data-guided presentations and infographics, for an assigned US state, targeted at helpingstakeholders and policymakers make informed decisions on reducing cerebrovascular disease burden.Add-ons: Analytics team member, Community Data Visualization WorkshopsKey Software used: GSuite, DataWrapper, Flourish, RStudio, Infographic, Canva, Slack Show less

- Completing CRFs to GCP standards.- Performing data entry onto EDC systems (iMedidata, Oracle Health Sciences inform, Veeva Vault).- Maintaining a low query volume by responding to queries on EDC and ECG (ERT, IQVIA) vendors, and lab portals (ICON iSite, Labcorp, IQVIA).- Assisting site Pharmacist with IMP preparation as unblinded checker.- Preparing laboratory kits (ICON, Labcorp, Eurofins, ACM global labs, IQVIA, etc.).- Processing samples following laboratory protocols… Show more - Completing CRFs to GCP standards.- Performing data entry onto EDC systems (iMedidata, Oracle Health Sciences inform, Veeva Vault).- Maintaining a low query volume by responding to queries on EDC and ECG (ERT, IQVIA) vendors, and lab portals (ICON iSite, Labcorp, IQVIA).- Assisting site Pharmacist with IMP preparation as unblinded checker.- Preparing laboratory kits (ICON, Labcorp, Eurofins, ACM global labs, IQVIA, etc.).- Processing samples following laboratory protocols and maintaining lab processing log.- Shipping ambient and frozen samples to various labs following protocol and IATA training.- Scheduling patient visits by consulting protocol.- Sending MRI/PET scan referrals to imaging centres.- Assisting with preparation for CRA visits and performing follow-up actions post-visit.- Following quality control procedures and maintaining patient folders and Investigator Site Files.- Maintaining laboratory stock.- General administration: distributing minutes following weekly Principal Investigator oversight meetings; conducting internal audits; answering calls to the clinic; processing patients’ travel expenses; maintaining temperature logs within pharmacy and labs.- Professional Development: shadowing psychology rating assessments (such as MMSE, CDR, ADAS-Cog), venepuncture training, taking patient vital signs and performing ECGs, mentoring new staff members with trial administration tasks, and conducting internal audits. Show less

- Assisted in screening aspirin analogues over a range of concentrations on primary glioblastoma cell cultures following a strict weekly treatment schedule and protocol.- Performed MTT assays to assess cell viability following treatment and organised the collected data in Excel spreadsheets.- Assisted with immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded sections of bone and colorectal cancer, staining for FGF-23 and ZO-1, respectively. Biotinylated secondary antibodies were used and… Show more - Assisted in screening aspirin analogues over a range of concentrations on primary glioblastoma cell cultures following a strict weekly treatment schedule and protocol.- Performed MTT assays to assess cell viability following treatment and organised the collected data in Excel spreadsheets.- Assisted with immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded sections of bone and colorectal cancer, staining for FGF-23 and ZO-1, respectively. Biotinylated secondary antibodies were used and visualised using DAB staining.- Assisted with staining neuroblastoma sections using primary antibodies CD31, LYVE1, and Alexa Fluor 647-conjugated CD3, and FITC-, RRX-conjugated secondary antibodies, and observed confocal microscopy to image the stained sections.- Shadowed and/or gained training in: RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, PCR amplification, gel electrophoresis, Shandon Cytospin 4, flow cytometry, and imaging using EVOS FL Imaging system.- Resulted in publication of 2 articles post-internship:https://gut.bmj.com/content/72/Suppl_2/A27.2.infohttps://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/15/2/242Completed a development pathway and expanded my understanding of Clinical Research Delivery within the NHS. Topics covered include:- understanding clinical research (study designs, regulatory and legislative frameworks, ethics, drug development process), - the research delivery pathway (study setup, data quality and management, informed consent process, participant safety, patient and public involvement and engagement),- advances in clinical research, including innovation in trial design and study delivery. Show less

Experienced different forms of medical communication to convey research advancements, gathered via interviews at various scientific conferences/events, on online video journals VJNeurology and VJOncology.- Generated video descriptions for the interviews uploaded to the video journals, and prepared tweets to promote the content on the video journals.- Published a feature article on VJNeurology providing a detailed overview of the clinical and pre-clinical investigations which led to… Show more Experienced different forms of medical communication to convey research advancements, gathered via interviews at various scientific conferences/events, on online video journals VJNeurology and VJOncology.- Generated video descriptions for the interviews uploaded to the video journals, and prepared tweets to promote the content on the video journals.- Published a feature article on VJNeurology providing a detailed overview of the clinical and pre-clinical investigations which led to the FDA approval of a Vagus Nerve Stimulation System for patients with upper limb impairments after chronic ischaemic stroke. - Researched for and recorded a podcast for video journal VJOncology on the latest therapeutic advancements for Urothelial Carcinoma (UC), featuring recorded interviews of experts from the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2021 conference.- Contributed to the development of interview guides by generating questions for key opinion leaders on the latest advancements in their research areas.- Collected details of speakers attending future events and prepared invites to interview them.- Developed biographies for the speakers who feature in the video journals. Show less

Conducted campus and laboratory tours alongside other ambassadors during FBS visit days. I also helped prospective students and parents with any questions they had about the degree course, opportunities, and life as an undergraduate student at Leeds.

6-week Summer Lab Placement working on an Alzheimer’s Disease Study with Dr Jim Deuchars. We investigated neurogenesis and amyloid pathology in an AD mouse model with glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) haploinsufficiency, which had been reported to rescue olfactory memory deficits in a previous study. Technical skills developed:- Operating Leica VT1000 S Vibrating blade microtome for tissue sectioning, EVOS FL Auto 2 imaging system (imaging stained sections of brain and spinal… Show more 6-week Summer Lab Placement working on an Alzheimer’s Disease Study with Dr Jim Deuchars. We investigated neurogenesis and amyloid pathology in an AD mouse model with glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) haploinsufficiency, which had been reported to rescue olfactory memory deficits in a previous study. Technical skills developed:- Operating Leica VT1000 S Vibrating blade microtome for tissue sectioning, EVOS FL Auto 2 imaging system (imaging stained sections of brain and spinal cord tissue) and Leica fluorescence microscopes.- Executed immunohistochemistry staining procedures using Methoxy-XO4 (Aβ fluorescent marker), primary antibodies (Pan-QKI, Iba1 and Anti-CD3) and secondary antibodies (Alexa Fluor 488, Alexa Fluor 555 and Streptavidin).- Familiarized with ImageJ and CorelDRAW software to perform cell counting using the imaged sections and analysed data collected using GraphPad Prism software. Show less