Dil Ekanayake-Alper

Dil Ekanayake-Alper is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Comparative Medicine at Yale School of Medicine and Assistant Director of the Residency Training Program. She holds dual expertise in veterinary medicine and immunology, with a focus on xenotransplantation, organ transplantation models, and immunological tolerance mechanisms. Her research integrates clinical, translational, and basic science approaches to address challenges in transplantation immunology and infectious diseases.

Education & Training:

• DVM, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (2003)
• PhD in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of Georgia (2011)
• Global Infectious Disease Scholar, Marine Biology Laboratory (2006)
• Veterinary Internship, Louisiana State University (2012)
• Laboratory Animal Residency, Yale School of Medicine (2015)

Research Interests:

Dr. Ekanayake-Alper's work centers on advancing xenotransplantation through preclinical models, particularly in pigs and nonhuman primates. Her studies investigate mechanisms of immune tolerance, graft survival, and the role of CD47 in mitigating xenograft rejection. She also explores anesthetic protocols for laboratory animals and the impact of viral infections on immune pathways. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges veterinary medicine, immunology, and clinical transplantation.

Publications Trends:

Her recent work emphasizes durable chimerism in transplantation, CD47-mediated survival of xenografts, and optimizing anesthetic regimens in guinea pigs. These studies underscore her focus on translational models to improve clinical outcomes in organ transplantation and animal care.

Awards & Recognition:

• Graduate Student Travel Award (2010)
• Presidential Recognition Awards (2004-2006)
• Infectious Disease Scholarship (2005)

Grants & Advising:

While specific grants are not detailed, her research aligns with NIH-funded projects on transplantation and immunology. She mentors students and trainees in comparative medicine and laboratory animal science through her residency program leadership.

Labs & Teams:

She contributes to Yale's xenotransplantation research group and collaborates with the Transplantation Biology and Immunology teams at Yale School of Medicine.