Rangi Kandane-Rathnayake

Associate Professor Rangi Kandane-Rathnayake is a Senior Researcher in the Rheumatology Research Group at the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health (SCS), Monash University. She also serves as the Scientific Director of the Asia Pacific Lupus Collaboration (APLC), leading significant research initiatives in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Education:

• PhD in Molecular Epidemiology, University of Melbourne (2010)
• Post-graduate Diploma in Biostatistics, Monash University (2019)
• Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences with 1st class Honours in Immunology, Monash University (2003)

Her research is centered on improving outcomes for individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus, a chronic autoimmune disease. With expertise as a biostatistician and epidemiologist, she focuses on registry sciences, longitudinal data modelling, and clinical research. Her work spans disciplines including rheumatology, haematology, nephrology, and public health, with an emphasis on comorbidities, lupus nephritis, health economics, and health-related quality of life in SLE patients.

The analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent focus on disease activity states in SLE, particularly the Lupus Low Disease Activity State (LLDAS), treatment outcomes, glucocorticoid use, and health disparities among Indigenous populations. Her research employs large-scale multinational and multicentre cohort studies, demonstrating methodological rigor and global collaboration.

Scientific Awards:

• Paper selected for the Best of Immunology & Cell Biology (ICB)/Clinical and Translational Immunology (CTI) Workshop at the 2019 Australian & New Zealand Society for Immunology (ASI) Annual Scientific Meeting

Associate Professor Kandane-Rathnayake leads multiple research projects funded by organizations such as Novartis and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), including studies on severe refractory SLE, treatment patterns in lupus nephritis, and the burden of organ damage in the APLC cohort. While formal students are not listed, her role as a primary chief investigator suggests mentorship and supervision within her research team. She is actively involved in several high-impact research networks and collaborations across the Asia-Pacific region.

Labs and Research Teams:

• Rheumatology Research Group, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health
• Asia Pacific Lupus Collaboration (APLC), where she is Scientific Director
• Collaborator in the Lupus and Arthritis Research Group