Dr. Rajapaksa is an academic Biomedical Engineer and emerging early career researcher in the field of novel respiratory technologies. She graduated with first class honours from Monash University with double degrees in Bachelor of Science and Electrical Engineering. Dr. Rajapaksa's PhD was awarded by Monash University in 2013. Her doctoral research developed the first non-invasive method of DNA vaccine delivery to the lung, using a novel aerosol nebulization system, a major breakthrough for aerosol gene delivery (two patents, three publications). This work is already being translated into clinical practice via a commercial partnership. In recognition, she was named Young Biomedical Engineer of 2010 by Engineers Australia. Since her commencement at Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, she has established the molecular biology facility for neonatal research. The lab is equipped with state-of-the art molecular biology tools for examining ventilator induced lung injury at a regional level during the transition from birth in a lamb model of prematurity.

Neonatal Research