Tilanthi Jayawardena
About Tilanthi Jayawardena
Tilanthi Jayawardena serves as the Director of Translational Science at Precision BioSciences, Inc., where he has worked since 2022. He has extensive experience in the biotechnology field, having held various roles at Biogen, Johns Hopkins Medicine, and Duke University.
Current Role at Precision BioSciences
Tilanthi Jayawardena serves as the Director of Translational Science at Precision BioSciences, Inc. since 2022. In this role, she focuses on advancing the development of cell therapies and translating scientific discoveries into clinical applications. Her leadership in this position contributes to the company's mission of developing innovative therapies for serious diseases.
Previous Experience at Biogen
Tilanthi Jayawardena worked at Biogen from 2013 to 2019, where she held two positions. Initially, she served as Scientist I in Bioassays, Analytical Development from 2013 to 2017, followed by a promotion to Scientist II in the same department until 2019. During her tenure, she developed robust and efficient analytic methods that supported clinical and commercial production of biologics.
Academic Background and Education
Tilanthi Jayawardena earned her PhD from Duke University, where she studied tumor vascular biology, RNA-binding proteins, and antibody phage display from 2002 to 2008. Prior to that, she completed her BA in Biochemistry at Hood College from 1996 to 2000. Her educational background provides a strong foundation for her work in translational science and research.
Research Experience at Johns Hopkins Medicine
Before her time at Biogen, Tilanthi Jayawardena worked as a Research Assistant at Johns Hopkins Medicine in the Institute of Genetic Medicine from 2000 to 2002. This early research experience contributed to her expertise in genetic medicine and laid the groundwork for her subsequent roles in the biopharmaceutical industry.
Postdoctoral Research at Duke University Health System
Tilanthi Jayawardena completed her postdoctoral research at Duke University Health System in the Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology from 2009 to 2013. This role allowed her to deepen her expertise in medical research and further develop her skills in statistical data analysis and bioassay suitability tests.