Dr Shamanthi Jayasooriya

MRCPCH, DTM&H, PhD, MRCGP, DFSRH

School of Medicine and Population Health

NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer

s.jayasooriya@sheffield.ac.uk

Room 207B, Second Floor, Sam Fox House, Northern General Hospital

Full contact details

Dr Shamanthi Jayasooriya
School of Medicine and Population Health
Room 207B, Second Floor, Sam Fox House
Northern General Hospital
Herries Road
Sheffield
S5 7AU

Profile

I am an NIHR advanced fellow, and a General Practitioner based at Page Hall Medical Centre, a Deep End General Practice, in one of the most deprived and ethnically diverse areas of Sheffield.

Currently I hold an NIHR advanced fellowship (2024-2029) exploring underdiagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Airways Disease (COPD) in underserved populations, using a mixed methods explanatory sequential study design. I joined the University of Sheffield in an NIHR Clinical Lecturer post (2019-2024) during which I conducted, both quantitative and qualitative research studies into chronic respiratory diseases in low- and middle- income country settings.

Prior to my UK based clinical academic training I worked at the Medical Research Council Unit at LSHTM The Gambia (2017-2018) as a study clinician on TB sequel, a multicentre study exploring lung impairment post tuberculosis. My work then focused on the healthcare needs of people who have symptoms of (presumed) tuberculosis but are not diagnosed with tuberculosis.

I was awarded a MRC PhD scholarship (2007-2011) to study immune responses to Epstein-Barr Virus in children in Africa based primarily at the MRC Unit at LSTHM and through this gained experience in laboratory science.

My undergraduate medical training was completed at the University of Southampton in 2002. Prior to training in General Practice in Sheffield (2011-2016) I completed postgraduate training in Paediatrics in London and South Yorkshire (2004-2006)

Research interests

My research interest is in Primary Care Respiratory Medicine. My advanced fellowship aims to explore barriers to diagnosis of and treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), focusing on primary care interventions such as vaccination. The study will assess COPD prevalence and identify challenges in care, with the goal of improving early diagnosis and outcomes in underserved communities. COPD affects around three million people in the UK, particularly in deprived areas where risk factors like smoking, air pollution, and poor housing are prevalent.

I have advocacy and consultancy roles both at a national (British Thoracic Society Global Lung Health Group) and international level (World Health Organisation, Global Alliance for Chronic Respiratory Disease). These networks have supported my academic development and led to two publications in The Lancet and Lancet Infectious Diseases on non-communicable chronic respiratory disease in Low- and Middle-income countries and TB survivors, respectively.

Publications

Books

(2022) Evidence Based Global Health Manual for Preterm Birth Risk Assessment. Springer International Publishing.

Journal articles

Jayasooriya S, Inoue M, Allen H, Bojang M, Ceesay A, Touray S, Mortimer K, Cooper R & Balen J (2024) Beliefs surrounding the use of inhaled asthma medication inThe Gambia: a qualitative study of asthma patients andhealthcare workers. npj Primary Care Respiratory Medicine(34).
Jayasooriya S, Stolbrink M, Khoo EM, Sunte IT, Awuru JI, Cohen M, Lam DC, Spanevello A, Visca D, Centis R , Migliori GB et al (2023) Clinical standards for the diagnosis and management of asthma in low- and middle-income countries. The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 27(9), 658-667.
Mitchell C, Fryer K, Guess N, Aminu H, Jackson B, Gordon A, Reynolds J, Huang Q, Jayasooriya S, Mawson R , Lawy T et al (2023) Underserved ‘Deep End’ populations: a critical analysis addressing the power imbalance in research. British Journal of General Practice, 73(732), 326-329. View this article in WRRO
Stolbrink M, Chinouya MJ, Jayasooriya S, Nightingale R, Evans-Hill L, Allan K, Allen H, Balen J, Beacon T, Bissell K , Chakaya J et al (2022) Improving access to affordable quality-assured inhaled medicines in low- and middle-income countries. The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 26(11), 1023-1032.
Campbell F, Salam S, Sutton A, Jayasooriya S, Mitchell CAROLINE, Amabebe E, Balen J, Gillespie B, Parris K, Soma-Pillay P , Chauke L et al (2022) Interventions for the prevention of spontaneous preterm birth : a scoping review of systematic reviews. BMJ Open, 125(5). View this article in WRRO
Meghji J, Mortimer K, Jayasooriya S & Marks GB (2021) Lung health in LMICs: tackling challenges ahead – Authors' reply. The Lancet, 398(10299), 490-490.
Linton E & Jayasooriya S (2021) Story from a survivor of tuberculosis. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.
Walker PP, J B, C E B, A B, J R H, S J, S J S, S W & K M (2021) Better lung health for all: A British Thoracic Society and Pan African Thoracic Society initiative. Journal of the Pan African Thoracic Society, 2(2), 73-74.
Meghji J, Mortimer K, Agusti A, Allwood BW, Asher I, Bateman ED, Bissell K, Bolton CE, Bush A, Celli B , Chiang C-Y et al (2021) Improving lung health in low-income and middle-income countries: from challenges to solutions. The Lancet. View this article in WRRO
Dodd PJ, Yuen CM, Jayasooriya SM, van der Zalm MM & Seddon JA (2021) Quantifying the global number of tuberculosis survivors: a modelling study. The Lancet Infectious Diseases. View this article in WRRO
Jayasooriya S, Mitchell C, Balen J & Darton TC (2020) Seasonal influenza programme expansion. BMJ, 371. View this article in WRRO
Vickers MA, Darboe F, Muefong CN, Mbayo G, Barry A, Gindeh A, Njie S, Riley A-J, Sarr B, Sambou B , Dockrell HM et al (2020) Monitoring anti-tuberculosis treatment response using analysis of whole blood Mycobacterium tuberculosis specific T cell activation and functional markers. Frontiers in Immunology, 11.
Jayasooriya S, Jobe A, Badjie S, Owolabi O, Rachow A, Sutherland J & Kampmann B (2019) The burden of non-TB lung disease presenting to TB clinics in The Gambia : preliminary data in the Xpert® MTB/Rif era. Public Health Action, 9(4), 166-168.
Jayasooriya S, de Silva T, Njie-Jobe J, Sanyang C, Leese A, Bell A, McAulay K, Yanchun P, Long HM, Dong T , Whittle HC et al (2015) Early Virological and Immunological Events in Asymptomatic Epstein-Barr Virus Infection in African Children . PLoS Pathogens, 11(3). View this article in WRRO
Plum C, Stolbrink M, Ozoh O, Jayasooriya S, Nightingale R, Mortimer K & Halpin D () Availability, cost and affordability of essential medicines for smoking cessation in low-income and middle-income countries: a cross-sectional study. Thorax.
Stolbrink M, Ozoh OB, Halpin DMG, Nightingale R, Meghji J, Plum C, Allwood BW, Jayasooriya S & Mortimer K () Availability, cost and affordability of essential medicines for chronic respiratory diseases in low-income and middle-income countries: a cross-sectional study. Thorax.
Jayasooriya S, Dimambro-Denson F, Beecroft C, Balen J, Awokola B, Mitchell C, Kampmann B, Campbell F, Dodd P & Mortimer K () Patients with presumed tuberculosis in sub-Saharan Africa that are not diagnosed with tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Thorax.
Chertow JH, Alkaitis MS, Nardone G, Ikeda AK, Cunnington AJ, Okebe J, Ebonyi AO, Njie M, Correa S, Jayasooriya S , Casals-Pascual C et al () Plasmodium Infection Is Associated with Impaired Hepatic Dimethylarginine Dimethylaminohydrolase Activity and Disruption of Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibitor/Substrate Homeostasis. PLOS Pathogens, 11(9), e1005119-e1005119.
Jayasooriya S, Hislop A, Peng Y, Croom-carter D, Jankey Y, Bell A, Dong T, Rowland-Jones S, Rickinson A, Walther M & Whittle H () Revisiting the Effect of Acute P. falciparum Malaria on Epstein-Barr Virus: Host Balance in the Setting of Reduced Malaria Endemicity. PLoS ONE, 7(2), e31142-e31142.
Walther M, Jeffries D, Finney OC, Njie M, Ebonyi A, Deininger S, Lawrence E, Ngwa-Amambua A, Jayasooriya S, Cheeseman IH , Gomez-Escobar N et al () Distinct Roles for FOXP3+ and FOXP3− CD4+ T Cells in Regulating Cellular Immunity to Uncomplicated and Severe Plasmodium falciparum Malaria. PLoS Pathogens, 5(4), e1000364-e1000364.

Chapters

Parris KM & Jayasooriya SM (2022) Prenatal Risk Assessment for Preterm Birth in Low-Resource Settings: Infection, Evidence Based Global Health Manual for Preterm Birth Risk Assessment (pp. 31-39). Springer International Publishing
Anumba DOC & Jayasooriya SM (2022) Prenatal Risk Assessment for Preterm Birth in Low-Resource Settings: Demographics and Obstetric History, Evidence Based Global Health Manual for Preterm Birth Risk Assessment (pp. 15-23). Springer International Publishing
Anumba DOC & Jayasooriya SM (2022) Global Antenatal Care Coverage and Content, Evidence Based Global Health Manual for Preterm Birth Risk Assessment (pp. 1-5). Springer International Publishing

Conference proceedings papers

Jayasooriya S, Fryer K, Mitchell C & Hurst J (2022) P188 Missed opportunities for chronic lung disease in deep end general practices in socioeconomically deprived areas. ‘Catch Me If You Can’ – Opportunities to improve care in airways disease (pp A183.1-A183)
Jayasooriya SM, Jobe A, Badjie S, Owolabi O, Rachow A, Sutherland JS & Kampmann B (2019) THE HIDDEN BURDEN OF CHRONIC RESPIRATORY DISEASE IN PATIENTS ATTENDING TB CLINICS IN THE GAMBIA. TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE, Vol. 113 (pp S212-S213)

Preprints

Jayasooriya S, Dimambro-Denson F, Beecroft C, Balen J, Awokola B, Mitchell C, Kampmann B, Campbell F, Dodd PJ & Mortimer K () Patients with presumed tuberculosis in sub-Saharan Africa that are not diagnosed with tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

Teaching activities: I have supervised Academic Foundation Doctors, Masters, and SSC students, both at MRC The Gambia at LSHTM, and at the University of Sheffield. In addition, I am part of the University of Sheffield medical school academic tutoring scheme.

Professional activities and memberships

Co-chair of British Thoracic Society (BTS) Global Lung Health Task and Finish Group (2025 - 2028)
Member of the British Thoracic Society (BTS) Specialist Advisory Global Health Group (2021 - 2024)
World Health Organisation consultant working with the Global Alliance for Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD) (2022 - present)
Member of the Primary Care Respiratory Society
Working group co-lead on chronic respiratory problems, Adult and Child Lung Health Section, The Union (2020 - 2021)
Reviewer: Thorax, npj Primary Care Respiratory Medicine, Transactions for the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, BMJ Open, and PLOS one.