The Latest News From The Lab

Dr Dulika Sumathipala is one of our distinguished McCusker Fellows and is making exciting progress in the field of immunology. Her medical and scientific journey began in Sri Lanka, and her passion for discovery has taken her across the globe in pursuit of research excellence. We sat down with Dulika to learn more about her journey to Canberra, and to share her story with others who may be chasing dreams of their own. Dr Tom Lea-Henry and Dr Dulika Sumathipala, both McCusker

In November, we welcomed Lihini Jayawardena, a year 5 student from Canberra Girls Grammar School and daughter of our Postdoctoral Researcher Dr  Dulika Sumathipala , to the lab as part of her end of Primary Years Program. Lihini jumped s traight into the world of personalised medicine, beginning with a video interview with Dr  Vicki Athanasopoulos  to explore what personalised medicine means for the future of healthcare. She then spent time at the microscope with PhD student

On 23 October 2025, we enjoyed an informative and engaging evening hosted by AHEPA Canberra, in partnership with the Hellenic Club of Canberra, featuring a fascinating presentation on personalised medicine by senior lecturer Dr Vicki Athanasopoulos. This event was a wonderful example of how community can come together to learn, connect, and build awareness around emerging approaches to healthcare. Together, we discussed what personalised medicine means and how it has the pote

Dr Vicki Athanasopoulos is a molecular immunologist at The John Curtin School of Medical Research at ANU in Canberra. She is a lead researcher at the Centre for Personalised Medicine with a special interest in lupus and Indigenous Health research.