Advance RI-CTR, the leading collaborative for clinical and translational research in Rhode Island, presented the inaugural Award for Clinical and Translational Research Excellence to Chathuraka Jayasuriya, PhD, associate professor of orthopaedics at The Warren Alpert Medical School and Rhode Island Hospital. The presentation was made on November 6 during a celebration of Advance RI-CTR's 10-year anniversary.

 “Dr. Jayasuriya is the embodiment of what Advance RI-CTR was designed to achieve—taking an idea from the lab bench and accelerating it toward patient care,” said Sharon Rounds, MD, program director of Advance RI-CTR. “His journey, which began with one of our earliest Pilot Project awards, validates a decade of strategic investment in Rhode Island's brightest minds. We are immensely proud to honor his success at the start of our next chapter.”

The award was created to celebrate the program’s milestone and recognizes an investigator who exemplifies the spirit of innovation and clinical and translational research excellence in the state.

Dr. Jayasuriya is recognized for his groundbreaking work in regenerative medicine, specifically developing a novel cell-based therapy using cartilage-derived human stem cells to enhance meniscus healing. This research aims to significantly reduce the incidence of chronic osteoarthritis, a complication common after joint injuries in athletes and military personnel.