Janaka Peragaswaththe Liyanage, Ph.D.
Address
Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute Wayne State University School of Medicine 3rd floor Mid Med Building 4100 John R Street, Detroit, MI 48201Office address
Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute
Wayne State University School of Medicine
3rd floor Mid Med building
87 E. Canfield St.
Detroit MI 48201
Department
Oncology
Research interests
• structural equation modeling
• genetic causal inferences
• RNA sequencing
Research description
Throughout my research career, I have led the development of innovative statistical methodologies across various fields in biostatistics and statistics. This includes pioneering developments in genetic causal inference through Mendelian Randomization (MR), analysis of partially recalled time-to-event data, mediation analysis, joint modeling for survival and quality of life data, and high-dimensional sparse covariance estimation. I have also played a pivotal role in providing statistical support for collaborative projects. Examples include a study investigating the impact of birth-related risk factors on patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), a study evaluating the effectiveness of an implemented bundle program in increasing the HPV vaccination series among SCD patients, and a study exploring the mechanism of anemia in Diamond-Blackfan anemia, the African American Resilience in Surviving Cancer, and Isovolumic Hemodilution Red Blood Cell Exchange in Sickle Cell Disease. Current projects include the development of a novel MR method for genetic causal inference from ordinal-type health outcomes, applied to investigate the causal effect of fetal hemoglobin on ordered and categorized microalbumin-creatinine ratio in SCD patients.
PubMed - my bibliography
Education/training
B.Sc. 2008 University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka
M.Sc. 2015 Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX, USA
Ph.D. 2018 University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
Postdoc 2020 University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Postdoc 2023 St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA