Ruvini Kurukulasooriya Senior Research Scientist, University of Ruhuna Galle, Sri Lanka A biologist who is interested in the interface of plant, animal and human diseases, Ruvini Kurukulasooriya, Ph.D., oversees all administrative operations of the Duke-Ruhuna Collaborative Research Centre, a partnership between DGHI and the University of Ruhuna that was launched in the years after Sri Lanka’s devastating 2004 tsunami. Kurukulasooriya, who studied agriculture as an undergraduate student at Ruhuna, joined the partnership as a research coordinator in 2011 and now administers a diverse portfolio of research and training activities focused on emerging infectious diseases, mental health and occupational health. She is also the first person to complete a doctoral degree through the collaboration, earning a Ph.D. in molecular microbiology from the University of Ruhuna in 2023. Along with her administrative responsibilities, Kurukulasooriya is working to establish Sri Lanka’s first academic network for One Health research, which focuses on interdisciplinary connections between the environment, animal and human health. I am working to change … … Sri Lanka’s longstanding, single-disciplinary research culture. As the well-being of humans, animals and healthy ecosystems are closely related, we need to develop more fruitful and effective strategies to address the country’s looming health and environmental challenges. Hence, a multidisciplinary One Health approach can offer a framework to study the factors that influence the well-being of humans, animals and ecosystems together and can provide a better understanding of how the changes immerging in the ecosystems and animals can impact human health. The biggest challenges we face … … include insufficient funding, poor infrastructure and facilities, low public awareness, and the lack of a trained workforce. In terms of establishing a One Health culture, we have been working to connect researchers from medicine, veterinary and agricultural sciences across three major universities in Sri Lanka, and it has been logistically challenging to identify and bring them together to establish a country network. We have just initiated this process very recently, and we hope it will be useful in helping us build a large, diverse group of researchers who can bring a multidisciplinary approach to improve the well-being of our country and its environment. Partnering with DGHI helps us … … to overcome numerous obstacles in terms of funding, infrastructure, capacity building and subject expertise. DGHI’s partnership has been vital in countless ways over the past 18 years. As an early-career researcher who was able to improve my capabilities and experience while working under the collaboration, I feel sincere gratitude to the directors and partners both at DGHI and the University of Ruhuna for their invaluable assistance. It’s important for our partners to … … sustain a spirit of mutual understanding, a positive attitude, dedication to success, and a commitment to teamwork. As the senior research scientist of the collaboration, I oversee the office staff, research assistants and students from both the U.S. and Sri Lanka, and I always encourage my colleagues to maintain a strong work ethic and commit themselves to the goals of the team. I have such respect for our team leaders and our staff, who set the tone for a successful partnership by always being willing to lend support. I am inspired by … … the most influential and motivating mentors in my research career. This includes Duke Professors Gayani Tillekeratne, Chris Woods and Truls Ostbye and Ruhuna Professors Ajith Nagahawatte, Champica Bodinayake and Gaya Wijeyarathne. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the excellent guidance and support they have given to enhance my career as a research scientist. I find it immensely rewarding to gain proficiencies in scientific research and implementation. Obtaining a Ph.D. has been a significant milestone in my research career, and it has inspired me to extend my contributions to the collaboration by pursuing my interest in establishing a multidisciplinary research culture in Sri Lanka. In five years, I hope … … to be a renowned contributor in a transformed multidisciplinary research culture in Sri Lanka, and thereby provide my best service to the country in facing future emerging health challenges. I strongly believe our DGHI partners will continue to provide their utmost support in helping us reach these goals.
