Dr Tharangani Herath

Supervisor Details

Contact Details

Scientific Background

Research Interests

My research interests focus on animal health, molecular biology, and veterinary pathology, with particular emphasis on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying disease pathogenesis and their impact on animal health. I am interested in integrating molecular and pathological approaches to improve disease diagnosis, surveillance, prevention, and control, while contributing to the development of evidence-based strategies for sustainable livestock health.

Scientific Inspiration

Louis Pasteur鈥檚 germ theory and his belief that 鈥渇ortune favors the prepared mind鈥� inspire me to bridge molecular research with practical applications in veterinary pathology and animal health.

Research Groups

Supervision Style

In three words or phrases: Student-centred, guiding, technique-orientated.

Provision of Training

I鈥檒l provide technical training at the start and then you will be well supported by skillful laboratory technicians.

Frequent discussion and result analysis will help you to become an independent thinker and researcher.

Progression Monitoring and Management

I will set out my expectations of your progression on a weekly/monthly basis. If these progression criteria are not met we will always discuss a plan of action together.

I am here for advice and guidance to help you reach the goals you set for yourself.

Communication

I am happy to discuss any issues that are impacting your ability to fulfil your potential or my/our expectations.

PhD Students can expect scheduled meetings with me at least once per week. These meetings will be a mixture of face to face or via video chat or telephone, and I am usually contactable for an instant response on every working day.

Work Pattern

Work in my lab requires being present on site (be it in a laboratory or at a field site) during core hours (or a subset if working part time).

Notice Period for Feedback

I need at least 2 weeks鈥� notice to provide feedback on written work of up to 5000 words.

MIBTP Project Details

Primary supervisor for:

Development of an Integrated Toolkit for Molecular and Pathological Characterisation of Joint Disease and Lameness in Dairy Cattle

See the PhD Opportunities section to see if this project is currently open for applications via MIBTP.

Please Note: The main page lists projects via BBSRC Research Theme(s) quoted and then relevant Topic(s).

Development of an Integrated Toolkit for Molecular and Pathological Characterisation of Joint Disease and Lameness in Dairy Cattle

Secondary Supervisor(s): Dr Emma Bleach, Dr Joe Roberts

University of Registration: Harper Adams University

BBSRC Research Themes:

Sustainable Agriculture and Food (Animal Health and Welfare)
Understanding the Rules of Life (Immunology, Microbiology, Structural Biology)
Integrated Understanding of Health (Regenerative Biology)

Project Outline

Lameness is a major welfare and productivity challenge in dairy cattle in the UK and beyond. Current approaches, including mobility scoring, assess the clinical and functional consequences of disease, providing limited insight into biological processes within joints. There is a need for complementary tools to characterise joint health at a molecular level. Synovial fluid (SF) provides a direct window into the joint, containing metabolites and proteins associated with inflammation, tissue injury, cartilage turnover and degeneration.

This project will use synovial-fluid metabolomics and targeted protein analysis, integrated with clinical and pathology data, to develop a toolkit for characterising joint disease in dairy cattle. The samples will include SF and joint tissue collected from dairy cattle at abattoirs, alongside relevant animal information. The SF metabolome will be characterised using high-resolution mass spectrometry, while inflammatory and degenerative proteins will be quantified using biomarker assays. Molecular findings will be integrated with mobility and clinical information where available, pathology, histology and immunohistochemistry to investigate relationships between molecular changes and tissue pathology. Metabolomic and protein data will be analysed to identify molecular features and pathways associated with inflammation, tissue degeneration, energy metabolism, lipid and amino-acid metabolism and oxidative stress. Relevant metabolites and proteins will be evaluated in additional samples where available, and combinations investigated as candidate signatures of lameness.

The project will develop a molecular toolkit for characterising joint disease, providing information on disease phenotype, biological activity and tissue pathology beyond conventional lameness assessment. In the longer term, identified markers could be investigated in blood and milk to support non-invasive disease detection.

Integrating Welfare and Epigenetics to Understand the Long-Term Effects of Captivity in Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio)

See the PhD Opportunities section to see if this project is currently open for applications via MIBTP.

Please Note: The main page lists projects via BBSRC Research Theme(s) quoted and then relevant Topic(s).

Integrating Welfare and Epigenetics to Understand the Long-Term Effects of Captivity in Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Secondary Supervisor(s): Dr Robert Mukiibi, Dr Ellen Williams

University of Registration: Harper Adams University

BBSRC Research Themes:

Understanding the Rules of Life (Immunology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, Systems Biology)

Project Outline

Environmental enrichment can improve fish welfare by providing opportunities for exploration, shelter and natural behaviours. However, we do not know whether long-term enrichment causes persistent biological changes beyond immediate behavioural and physiological responses. In particular, it is unclear whether enrichment alters DNA methylation in breeding fish and whether these changes are detectable in their gametes and offspring.

This project will determine whether long-term environmental enrichment alters welfare, stress and immune function in common carp and whether these responses are associated with DNA methylation changes detectable in the germline and offspring. To test our hypothesis, adult carp from a common breeding population will be maintained in either standard, structurally simple aquaria or enriched aquaria providing greater physical and spatial complexity. The fish husbandry conditions will be controlled between treatments. Behavioural, physiological and immune indicators will be measured over time to assess welfare. DNA methylation will be compared between treatments in adults, sperm and eggs to identify enrichment-associated changes and determine whether they occur in the germline. To test whether the enrichment-associated DNA methylation changes occur in the germline and remain detectable in developing offspring, embryos and offspring will be reared under identical common-garden conditions and sampled at defined developmental stages. DNA methylation will be compared across parents, gametes and offspring, alongside offspring behavioural and physiological measures.

The project will establish whether environmental enrichment influences the germline epigenome and associated changes persist into offspring. By linking captive environment, welfare and epigenetic responses, the findings will advance understanding of environmental effects on fish biology and provide evidence to improve captive fish welfare, husbandry and environmental design.

Innovative Multi-Epitope Vaccine Development for Sustainable Aquaculture Using Immunoinformatics and Alternative In Vivo Models

See the PhD Opportunities section to see if this project is currently open for applications via MIBTP.

Please Note: The main page lists projects via BBSRC Research Theme(s) quoted and then relevant Topic(s).

Innovative Multi-Epitope Vaccine Development for Sustainable Aquaculture Using Immunoinformatics and Alternative In Vivo Models

Secondary Supervisor(s): Dr Robert Mukiibi

University of Registration: Harper Adams University

BBSRC Research Themes:

Sustainable Agriculture and Food (Animal Health and Welfare)
Understanding the Rules of Life (Immunology, Microbiology)

Project Outline

Yersinia ruckeri (YR), the causative agent of Enteric Redmouth Disease (ERM), is a major bacterial pathogen affecting salmonid aquaculture. Current bacterin vaccines, largely based on O1a strains, provide limited protection against emerging antigenically diverse variants, including O1b and non-motile biotype 2. Recurrent vaccine failures highlight the need for next-generation vaccines capable of providing broader cross-protection, improving fish health and welfare while reducing economic losses and antimicrobial use.

This project aims to engineer an immunoinformatics-derived multi-epitope vaccine against YR and establish wax moth (Galleria mellonella) larvae (WML) as an ethical and rapid in vivo platform for early-stage vaccine screening. Reverse vaccinology and immunoinformatics will be used to identify conserved and immunogenic YR epitopes suitable for multi-epitope vaccine design. The selected vaccine construct will then be synthesised, recombinantly expressed, purified and characterised in vitro. In parallel, a reproducible WML infection model will be developed by optimising YR infection conditions and assessing survival and innate immune responses. Vaccine efficacy will subsequently be evaluated in immunised WML following YR challenge using survival, bacterial burden and immune-response measures as key outcomes.

By combining computational vaccine design, recombinant vaccine production and alternative in vivo screening, this project will accelerate the development of a broadly protective YR vaccine while supporting the 3R principles and reducing reliance on higher animal models during early-stage research. The project has the potential to improve disease prevention, animal health and welfare, support sustainable salmonid production and reduce dependence on antimicrobial treatments.

Co-supervisor on projects with Dr Robert Mukiibi.

海角社区

Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership