About Me
Dr. Dushani L. Palliyaguru is an expert in aging, disease prevention and environmental health. She currently serves as the Co-founder and CEO of HealthSurveil, a US-based health tech startup that specializes in preventing and controlling aging-related chronic diseases using data, AI, sensor and IoT technology, and scientifically-backed products.
Dr. Palliyaguru completed her primary and secondary education in Sri Lanka and won a Full Scholarship to Clark University in Worcester, MA in the U.S., where she majored in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. She obtained her Ph.D. in Environmental and Occupational Health from University of Pittsburgh in 2016 where her dissertation focused on understanding how Withaferin A targeted the Nrf2-mediated environmental stress response pathway to prevent liver disease. She also completed her Postdoctoral training at the National Institutes of Health where she studied biomarkers of aging, pharmacological compounds for healthspan and lifespan extension and dietary interventions for Alzheimer's disease prevention.
Dr. Palliyaguru has over a decade of experience in scientific research & leadership across multiple institutions of academia, government and biotech. She has published high-impact articles and has won prestigious awards, including a K99/R00 Pathway to Independence grant from the NIH. Dr. Palliyaguru serves on many expert panels focusing on public health outcomes, including ones attached to the World Health Organization (WHO). She has also been featured on multiple interviews, news articles, blog posts and podcasts discussing topics related to longevity, disease prevention, environmental health and women in science.
Dr. Palliyaguru strongly believes that while aging might be inevitable, healthy aging is certainly achievable through careful planning. She is deeply passionate about developing solutions, tools, technologies and products that can help people live longer and healthier lives.
Education and Experience
University of Pittsburgh
Ph.D. in Environmental and Occupational Health, 2016
Clark University
Global Scholar - Full merit-based scholarship awarded to select International students for academic performance, leadership and global community service
B.A. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Major) and Mathematics (Minor) 2009
magna cum laude and highest departmental honors
Education
Experience
UMASS Medical School, Massachusetts, US
University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US
National Institute on Aging, Maryland, US
World Health Organization (WHO)
HealthSurveil LC, Texas, US
Selected Awards and Accolades
· Chair, Gordon Research Seminar on Biology of Aging, Barcelona, Spain July, 2023
· K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award, NIH, US September, 2022
· Excellence in Research Award, NIA/NIH, US May, 2021
· Outstanding Postdoc Mentor Award, NIA/NIH, US June, 2020
· Nathan W. Shock STAR Postdoctoral Mentorship Award, NIA/NIH , US May, 2020
· Postdoc Award, Clinical and Translational Toxicology SS, Society of Toxicology, US March, 2017
· Best Paper Award, International Conference of Non-communicable disease, Sri Lanka Dec, 2017
· Ronald G. Thurman Award, First Place, Society of Toxicology, US March, 2015
· American Institute of Chemists Award for Biochemistry, US May, 2009
Selected First-author Publications
· Fasting blood glucose as a predictor of mortality: Lost in translation. Cell Metabolism, IF: 31.3
· Sulforaphane Diminishes the Formation of Mammary Tumors in Rats Exposed to 17β-Estradiol. Nutrients, IF: 5.7
· Frailty index as a biomarker of lifespan and healthspan: Focus on pharmacological interventions. Mechanisms of Aging & Development, IF: 5.3
· Combining a High Dose of Metformin With the SIRT1 Activator, SRT1720, Reduces Life Span in Aged Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet. Journals of Gerontology A, IF: 5.1
· Perinatal diet influences health and survival in a mouse model of leukemia. GeroScience, IF: 7.5
· Evaluation of 2-Thiothiazolidine-4-Carboxylic Acid, a Common Metabolite of Isothiocyanates, as a Potential Biomarker of Cruciferous Vegetable Intake. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, IF: 4.6
· Isothiocyanates: Translating the Power of Plants to People. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, IF: 4.6
· Withaferin A induces Nrf2-dependent protection against liver injury: Role of Keap1-independent mechanisms (Ph.D. Dissertation publication). Free Radical Biology & Medicine. IF: 8.1
· Global geographical overlap of aflatoxin and hepatitis C: controlling risk factors for liver cancer worldwide (First ever publication). Food Additives & Contaminants, IF: 2.9
PREPRINTS
H-Index: 14
Selected Presentations, Talks and Media
· Speaker, Senior Day out, Lubbock, US - "Healthy aging - the do's". July, 2024
· Invited Speaker, Link Natural, Sri Lanka- “Decoding longevity and healthy aging”. April, 2024
· Feature, Vita-DAO podcast series, Singapore – “Nrf2 and longevity” March, 2024
· Invited Speaker, Elon University, US – “Leveraging data to improve human health” October, 2023
· Invited Speaker, Oregon University, US – “From Phenotype to metabolite: defining factors that regulate lifespan and healthspan” February, 2022
· Poster, Annual AGE Meeting, US - “Effect of riboflavin deficiency in Alzheimer’s disease” July, 2021
· Feature, Lanka Monthly Digest, Sri Lankans Overseas – “Beyond the comfort zone” April, 2021
· Panelist, NIA and NIDA, US – “Women scientists: shaping the future of science” June, 2021
· Invited Speaker, Family Health Bureau, Sri Lanka – “Nutrition & disease prevention: research perspectives” Dec 2017
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