Dr Tharani Senavirathna is a Research Assistant in the Melanoma Discovery lab at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, working with Professor Elin Gray. Her research focuses on preclinical uveal melanoma, investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying tumour progression, metastasis and therapeutic response using experimental animal models and translational laboratory approaches.

Dr Senavirathna completed her PhD in Medical Science at Edith Cowan University (ECU) in 2025, where her research focused on the therapeutic potential of nutraceutical interventions in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Her work investigated metabolic liver disease progression using integrated preclinical approaches including animal models, histopathology, metabolomics and bile acid profiling.

Dr Senavirathna has broad laboratory and preclinical research experience across leading Western Australian research institutes. She has expertise in experimental animal models, tissue processing, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and translational laboratory methodologies.

As part of the Cancer Cell Biology Group, her work involves a range of laboratory and preclinical methodologies to support translational cancer research, including:

• Preclinical cancer models: utilising experimental animal models to investigate tumour biology, metastatic progression and the preclinical evaluation of novel therapeutic strategies.
• Histopathology and molecular imaging: applying histological, immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence-based methods to assess tissue architecture, tumour characteristics, biomarker expression and treatment responses.
• Translational laboratory methodologies: supporting preclinical oncology research through tissue collection and processing, molecular and cellular laboratory techniques, and experimental workflows to investigate disease mechanisms and evaluate potential therapeutic targets.

Her work contributes to multidisciplinary translational cancer research aimed at improving the understanding of uveal melanoma biology and supporting the development of novel therapeutic strategies for metastatic disease.

Dr Senavirathna also has extensive laboratory teaching experience at Edith Cowan University, where she has demonstrated undergraduate biomedical science practical classes and mentored students in molecular biology, genetics, pathology and a range of biomedical laboratory techniques.