Damitha Liyanaarachchi
Bioinformatics Scientist at Genelabs Medical, working across NGS analysis, clinical variant interpretation, and applied machine learning for genetic diagnostics. Trained in medicine and health sciences before moving into computing — I build tools that sit at the intersection of clinical genomics, software engineering, and AI.
From medicine to genomic AI
I trained in medicine and health sciences at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, before completing a Master of Information Technology with Distinction — earning the JICA Award for best performance. That path now shapes how I work: I build bioinformatics software with a clinician's eye for accuracy, and a computer scientist's eye for scalable, well-engineered systems.
Master of Information Technology (MIT)
Sept 2021 — Apr 2024University of Colombo School of Computing
Distinction | JICA Award for the Best Student in MIT
View detailsBachelor of Health Studies
2014 — 2019Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo (enrolled for MBBS)
View detailsG.C.E. Advanced Level — Biology Stream
2013Royal College, Colombo 07
2 A passes (Physics, Chemistry), 1 B pass (Biology) · Z-Score: 2.1630
View detailsWhere I've worked
Bioinformatics Scientist
February 2025 — PresentGenelabs Medical (Pvt) Ltd, Sri Lanka
- Lead bioinformatics research and development in genomic data analysis, molecular diagnostics, and clinical interpretation of NGS data.
- Perform end-to-end analysis of WES, WGS, blended genome-exome, and amplicon-based targeted panel (AmpliSeq) sequencing, including variant annotation and curation following ACMG/AMP guidelines.
- Develop and apply machine learning and AI-based models to improve diagnostic accuracy for inherited and complex genetic disorders, including ongoing work on NIPT for fetal sex determination and chromosomal aneuploidy detection.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary clinical and research teams to integrate bioinformatics workflows into routine medical diagnostics and translational research in Sri Lanka.
- Contribute to institution-funded research projects and national/international academic-clinical collaborations.
- Supervise and mentor laboratory and bioinformatics staff, and provide training in NGS data analysis.
Associate Member
August 2025 — PresentHuman Pangenome Reference Consortium
- Serve as a representative from Sri Lanka in the international Human Pangenome Reference Consortium.
- Contribute to a global collaborative initiative advancing comprehensive human pangenome reference resources for genomics research and precision medicine.
- Engage with an international network of researchers, clinicians, and bioinformaticians to promote pangenome-based approaches in genomic analysis.
Visiting Lecturer
February 2025 — PresentInstitute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (IBMBB), University of Colombo
- Conduct lectures for the MSc in Bioinformatics programme on Systems Biology and Pathway Analysis, Genomic Data Science, and NGS Data Analysis Tools.
Researcher
December 2023 — PresentBioinformatics Research Group, University of Colombo School of Computing
- Developed a deep learning-assisted automated screening system for thalassemia, integrating peripheral blood smear image analysis with red blood cell indices — published in a Q1 peer-reviewed journal.
- Served on the organising committee for the Embassy Science Fellow Workshop for Bioinformatics, a collaboration between the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka, NHGRI, and Genelabs Medical.
- Guest speaker at 'Advancing Next-Generation Sequencing in the South Asian Region' (SLIBTEC & ICGEB, May 2024).
- Proficient in developing NGS pipelines using cloud-based platforms such as Galaxy and Orange Data Mining tools.
Project Manager
March 2020 — August 2023Dream Stream, LLC. USA
- Data management and server synchronization using FTP/SCTP/Mega Sync.
- Implemented security measures such as port restrictions and custom firewall rules.
- Server diagnostics and setup using rescue mode and IPKVM; network troubleshooting and HTTPS/SOCKS5 proxy implementation.
- Web automation using Browser Automation Studio and UiPath; trained and managed a small team of virtual assistants.
Browser Automation Developer (Freelance)
March 2020 — PresentFiverr.com
- Develop browser automation scripts in Python and JavaScript to streamline repetitive tasks and optimize client workflows.
Teaching & Mentorship
Alongside clinical bioinformatics work, I teach postgraduate students and mentor the next generation of bioinformaticians.
Research & Publications
Peer-reviewed and applied research at the intersection of genomics, machine learning, and clinical diagnostics.
A dual-modal machine learning framework integrating red blood indices and smartphone-captured microscopic images for β-thalassemia screening
BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making (Springer Nature, Q1 Journal)
A dual-modal machine learning framework integrating red blood indices and smartphone-captured microscopic images for β-thalassemia screening
National Health Research Symposium (NHRS) 2025, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka
Knowledge, attitudes and practices on types of water bottles consumed by ordinary level students of two selected schools
International Medical Undergraduate Research Conference (IMURC) 2019, University of Sri Jayewardenepura
Research Interests
- Bioinformatics
- Data Mining and Warehousing
- Cybersecurity
- Spatial Experience and Human Computer Interaction
Selected projects
Clinical bioinformatics systems built at Genelabs Medical — from sample management to AI-assisted variant interpretation.