Shanika Amarasinghe — ASN Events

Shanika Amarasinghe

Monash University, VIC, Australia

I am a female Early Career Researcher and translational bioinformatics scientist at Monash University whose work sits at the intersection of spatial biology, cancer genomics, and computational modelling of tumour ecosystems. My research program focuses on integrating multiomic datasets, including spatial transcriptomics, genomics, and functional modelling systems, to identify clinically relevant biomarkers and enable biologically informed treatment stratification in cancer. Since completing my PhD in 2018, I have established an exceptional track record relative to opportunity, with high-quality publications in leading international journals including Genome Biology, Nature Methods, and Nature Communications. My work has accrued more than 2,300 citations, with a Field Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) of 4.43, reflecting strong international influence and recognition. Notably, my research has also demonstrated emerging translational and commercial relevance, with two of my publications cited in patent applications and extensions (LENS.org), including the highly cited 2020 Genome Biology longread sequencing study (cited in 12 patents) and earlier work on CIPK16mediated stress responses (cited in patent literature). These citations highlight the broader applicability of my work to technology development and downstream biomedical innovation. In addition to methodological innovation, I have made significant contributions to the development of widely adopted bioinformatics tools and analytical workflows, underpinning reproducibility and rigour in complex genomic analyses. My technical expertise spans bulk and singlecell transcriptomics, longread sequencing, and advanced spatial platforms including 10x Genomics Visium and Xenium, Brüker GeoMx, and CosMx. My established national reputation is demonstrated by receiving invitations to present my research at renowned scientific conferences (e.g. Oz Single Cell, Cancer Bioinformatics Australia) and institutions (South Australia Genomics Centre). Over recent years, I have strategically transitioned toward translational cancer research, with a particular emphasis on spatially resolved breast cancer biology and clinically deployable biomarker discovery. Embedded within the Monash Biomedical Discovery Institute and Cancer Laboratory under the mentorship of Dr Thierry Jardé, I now lead integrative analyses across spatial transcriptomic, genomic, and patientderived organoid drugresponse datasets generated through established Monash–Cabrini collaborations in Victoria. This work positions me at the interface of computational discovery and translational application, aligning strongly with precision oncology priorities, and is further supported by demonstrated capacity to generate outputs with downstream translational and innovation potential.