معرفی
Dr Amila Agampodi Dewa is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB), The University of Queensland. Her work focuses on exploring microbial biodiversity to discover novel natural products with medicinal applications. She specializes in isolating and characterizing bioactive compounds from marine and terrestrial fungi, particularly those with anti-viral, anti-cancer, and anti-microbial properties.
Education:
- PhD in Natural Products Chemistry, The University of Queensland (2022)
- Bachelor (Honours) of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colombo
Research Interests: Dr Dewa's research integrates chemical ecology, microbial genomics, and drug discovery. She investigates fungal secondary metabolites, focusing on compounds that modulate drug resistance mechanisms (e.g., P-glycoprotein inhibitors) and employs precursor-directed biosynthesis to amplify production of rare metabolites. Her work bridges marine biology and medicinal chemistry, leveraging underexplored environments like termite nests and marine fish-derived fungi.
Publications: Her recent studies highlight discoveries of novel glycosides (e.g., Liriosmaside A), triterpene aminoglycosides (Pullenvalenes), and phenylpropanoid piperazines with therapeutic potential. These findings advance understanding of natural product biosynthesis pathways and their applications in drug development.
Affiliations: IMB's interdisciplinary environment supports her collaborations in microbial biodiversity, chemical ecology, and translational research. She is available for PhD supervision in natural products chemistry and drug discovery.
