Devika Chithrani

Devika Chithrani is Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Victoria's Faculty of Science, leading pioneering research in cancer nanomedicine using gold nanoparticles to enhance radiotherapy and chemotherapy while reducing normal tissue toxicity.

Education:

• PhD, University of Toronto, Canada
• MSc, University of Toronto, Canada
• BSc (Hons), University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
• NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Toronto, Canada

Her research focuses on nanoparticle synthesis/characterization, radiosensitizer development, and multimodal imaging systems. She investigates how nanoparticle size, shape, and surface properties dictate intracellular fate in vitro and in vivo, engineering 3D tissue-like models to optimize therapeutic platforms. Her work bridges fundamental bio-nano interface studies with clinical translation for improved cancer diagnostics and treatment.

Publication trends from 2006-2022 reveal progression from foundational nanoparticle-cell interaction studies to advanced tumor microenvironment applications and combination therapies (e.g., gold nanoparticles with pyronaridine/bleomycin), demonstrating translational momentum toward clinical implementation in radiation oncology.

Scientific awards:

• NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow

She mentors 5 current graduate students (including NSERC-funded PhD candidates Nolan Jackson and Daniel Cecchi) and has supervised 10+ previous students who received prestigious awards like NSERC CGS D and UVic Fellowships. Her research is funded by CIHR, NSERC, Mitacs Accelerate, CFI, BCKDF, and the Government of Canada's NCE Program.

She directs the Nanoscience and Technology Laboratory, a multidisciplinary team integrating physics, chemistry, biology, and computer science to develop nanomaterials (gold/lipid nanoparticles) that enhance radiotherapy/chemotherapy efficacy through precise tumor targeting and reduced systemic toxicity.