Dr Pradeepa Ruwan Wanni Arachchige

I am an Associate Lecturer in Medical Imaging with a strong academic and clinical foundation, underpinned by over a decade of experience in radiology and advanced neuroimaging research. My expertise spans cutting-edge MRI and neuroimaging techniques, including functional MRI (fMRI) modalities, such as hypercapnic gas challenges for cerebrovascular reactivity, and physiological MRI methods, like arterial spin labelling (ASL) for cerebral blood flow assessment. I also specialize in structural MRI techniques, including T1-weighted imaging and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), to investigate brain connectivity in clinical populations, such as stroke and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

In my recent role as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre, University of Nottingham, I led multi-site neuroimaging projects in collaboration with the University of Birmingham and Aston University. This involved optimizing MRI protocols across multiple vendors (Siemens and Philips) and developing advanced pipelines for analyzing multi-vendor MRI data. As part of the imaging work stream in the mTBI-Predict consortium, I collaborated with interdisciplinary teams of neuroscientists, medical physicists, and clinicians to advance research on mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and contribute to impactful outcomes.

I hold a PhD in Neuroimaging from Tokyo Metropolitan University, Japan, where my research focused on structural and functional brain changes in stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation with occupational therapy interventions. My work, utilizing multimodal MRI (fMRI, DTI, and T1), provided valuable insights into how therapeutic interventions influence brain structure and function. Additionally, I hold a two-year Master’s degree in Radiological Sciences and a four-year BSc in Radiography, which laid the foundation for my expertise. Before transitioning into academia, I gained extensive clinical experience as a diagnostic radiographer and clinical application specialist, working across diverse clinical populations. These roles sharpened my practical skills and deepened my knowledge of anatomy and pathology, which continue to inform my teaching and research.

I am passionate about advancing neuroimaging research by integrating it with neuroscience and clinical applications. My interests lie in exploring the brain’s structural, functional, and physiological networks, understanding disease mechanisms, and enhancing medical imaging’s clinical applications to improve patient outcomes. As an educator, I am dedicated to creating an engaging, supportive learning environment that inspires the next generation of radiographers and researchers.