The following contribution is an essay by TWAS research grantee Meran Keshawa Ediriweera, a biochemist from Sri Lanka:

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Subjects such as fatty acids and epigenetics are a consistently important field within biochemistry, offering a strong foundation for researchers striving to establish a solid and career routes. And thanks to a research grant from TWAS, I’m launching long-term research on the epigenetic effects of fatty acids, a fascinating basic sciences research topic in Biochemistry, at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to TWAS and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), which funds the grants, for their invaluable support. The funding they provided has enabled me to start my research on fatty acids and epigenetics at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, where I joined the faculty in 2021. It allowed me to purchase essential tools—such as a micro-plate reader, a laboratory device for observing the light absorbance of  biological samples, and micropipettes, which draw and dispense liquid from one place to another. This equipment was required for my research work, and to disseminate my research findings.

Funding and other resources are scarce in Sri Lanka, and grants such as these provide robust support for much-needed capacity building in scientific research. The support from TWAS and Sida is about more than financial resources, however. Their unwavering belief in the importance of this research and their commitment to fostering scientific excellence—especially in basic sciences in developing countries—are a constant source of motivation and inspiration for me.

Our research is investigating the epigenetic effects of effects of fatty acids, which is directly relevant to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being. By influencing gene expression and cellular health, this project can potentially develop new strategies to treat chronic diseases, helping to ensure healthy lives and promoting well-being for all. 

The research work with fatty acids was originally started in the Functional Genomic Biochemistry Laboratory of the Jeju National University, South Korea, with a grant I received from the National Research Foundation of Korea for young researchers. I trained there as a postdoctoral researcher after my PhD at the Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, a postgraduate research  institute affiliated to the University of Colombo, and trained with many biochemical laboratory techniques that I am using today to foster biochemistry research in Sri Lanka.

Now, with the support of this research grant I was able to expand my research areas to identify new pharmacological targets of fatty acids other than histones.  In addition, TWAS supported my application to attend the International Training Workshop on Open Science and SDGs at the Computer Network Information Center of the Chinese Academy of Science (CAS) in Beijing, China, where I learned about open science and some big data analysis methods. I was lucky to collaborate with a CAS scientist to conduct computational drug discovery using their supercomputers—a collaborative research project that is currently ongoing.  

Also, in line with the current research work, we submitted a book proposal to Elsevier on the biochemical roles of fatty acids and it was recently accepted. We are inviting researchers who work on fatty acid biochemistry from all over the world to participate in the project. If anyone wishes to submit a book chapter on this topic, they free to contact me before February 2024.

So, the grant not only helped my research directly, but is having a clear ripple effect that could strengthen scientific research in Sri Lanka for years to come. I again extend my deepest gratitude to TWAS and Sida for their unwavering support. I am committed to conducting high-quality research in Sri Lanka and wish to lift the research landscape in my country to a top-tier level in the future.