Overview
Background
Hemamali Samaratunga MBBS (Hons) LRCP (London) MRCS (UK) FRCPA, FRCPath
- Specialist Anatomical Pathologist, Managing Director, Aquesta Specialised Uropathology
- Full Professor, University of Queensland Faculty of Medicine
- Visiting Medical Officer, Greenslopes Private Hospital
Hemamali graduated with honours from the University of Sri Lanka, Colombo Medical School and completed Pathology specialty training in Queensland. She held a number of consultant posts in both hospital and private practice. In 2008 she established Aquesta Uropathology which now provides diagnostic uropathology services to the majority of urologists in Queensland and Northern New South Wales. In addition to this she maintains a large second opinion consultation practice with requests obtained from throughout Australia and from overseas.
She is active in Genitourinary Pathology research with collaborators in Australia, USA, Canada, Karolinska Institute in Sweden and the Wellington School of Medicine in New Zealand. She held the position of Secretary of the International Society of Urological Pathology from 2015 to 2019.
She was a contributor to the 2004, 2015 and 2022 World Health Organization (WHO) books on Classification of Tumours: Pathology and Genetics of Tumours of the Urinary and Male Reproductive System. She participated in the 2015 revision of the WHO Tumour Classification in Zurich, Switzerland (4th edition) as member, Prostate Tumour Panel. She was a representative of the Expert Groups formulating structured reporting protocols for the Royal College Pathologists of Australasia on kidney, testis and prostate cancer and is currently chairperson of the structured reporting protocols for Genitourinary cancer. She is also currently the Convener for the RCPA Uropathology Quality Assurance Program.
Qualifications
MBBS (HONS) LRCP (London) MRCS (UK) FRCPA FRCPath
Current UQ Appointments
Academic Title-Professor
Non-UQ Appointments
2008 - current: Specialist Anatomical Pathologist & Managing Director, Aquesta Specialized Uropathology
2015 - Current: Visiting Medical Officer, Greenslopes Private Hospital
2003 - 2021: Visiting Medical Officer, Princess Alexandra Hospital
June 2001 - Oct 2008: Specialist Anatomical Pathologist, Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology, Brisbane
1993 - 1997: Specialist Anatomical Pathologist, Royal Brisbane Hospital
1998 - 2001: Senior Anatomical Pathologist, North Brisbane Hospitals Board
Research Interests
- Granular tumour necrosis
- Diagnosis of limited adenocarcinoma on prostate needle biopsy
- Ductal adenocarcinoma of prostate
- Mucinous adenocarcinoma of prostate
- Radical prostatectomy handling and reporting
- Micropapillary urothelial cancer
- Mimics of bladder cancer
Awards and other Esteem Indicators
2017 Admitted to Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists, London (FRC Path) for sustained excellence in published works
2022 Awarded the Grawitz Medal of the International Society of Urological Pathology for distinguished service to the discipline of Urological Pathology
2023 Author of the publication Percentage grade 4 tumour predicts outcome for prostate adenocarcinoma in needle biopsies from patients with advanced disease: Ten year data from the TROG 03.04 RADAR Trial. Pathology 54: 49- 54, awarded the prize of
Article of the Year by the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia.
2024 Distinguished Fellowship Award of the Royal College Pathologists of Australasia
For distinguished service to the discipline of Urological Pathology
Keywords
Pathology, Genitourinary cancer, Prostate, Kidney, Urinary tract, Testis, Penis
Availability
- Professor Hemamali Samaratunga is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Research impacts
She has over 320 scientific publications and has a Google Scholar H-index of 56 with 18150 citations. To date she has authored or co-authored 28 books, 21 book chapters and 274 peer-reviewed publications. Apart from her primary research activities Professor Samaratunga actively collaborates with other research groups and is a regular contributor - often as primary or senior author to international research consortia. One notable contribution has been her involvement in the development of artificial intelligence programs for the reporting of prostate cancer. In collaborative studies involving colleagues from the Netherlands, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand and the United States she was chosen to be one of three expert pathologists to review all cases, thus setting the gold standard for the diagnosis and grading of prostate cancer. These studies have been published in highly prestigious journals as noted in her CV. Importantly in comparative studies, the AI program informed by the findings of group of three pathologists that included Professor Samaratunga, outperformed all other AI programs.
Works
Search Professor Hemamali Samaratunga’s works on UQ eSpace
2015
Journal Article
Diagnostic performance of expression of PCA3, Hepsin and miR biomarkers inejaculate in combination with serum PSA for the detection of prostate cancer
Roberts, Matthew J., Chow, Clement W., Schirra, Horst J., Richards, Renee, Buck, Marion, Selth, Luke A., Doi, Suhail A. R., Samaratunga, Hema, Perry-Keene, Joanna, Payton, Diane, Yaxley, John, Lavin, Martin F. and Gardiner, Robert A. (2015). Diagnostic performance of expression of PCA3, Hepsin and miR biomarkers inejaculate in combination with serum PSA for the detection of prostate cancer. Prostate, 75 (5), 539-549. doi: 10.1002/pros.22942
2015
Journal Article
Mesenchymal tumors of adult kidney
Samaratunga, Hemanali and Delahunt, Brett (2015). Mesenchymal tumors of adult kidney. Seminars in Diagnostic Pathology, 32 (2), 160-171. doi: 10.1053/j.semdp.2015.02.007
2015
Conference Publication
Expression of immunohistochemical Caveolin-1 staining can aid in differentiation between Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma and Renal Oncocytoma
Ng, K., Small, D., Morais, C., Samaratunga, H., Gobe, G. and Wood, S. (2015). Expression of immunohistochemical Caveolin-1 staining can aid in differentiation between Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma and Renal Oncocytoma. 68th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand, Adelaide, SA Australia, 11-14 April 2015. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/bju.13072
2015
Conference Publication
Diagnostic performance of PCA3, Hepsin and microRNA biomarkers in ejaculate in combination with serum PSA for the detection and triaging of prostate cancer
Roberts, Chow, Schirra, Richards, Buck, Seth, Doi, Samaratunga, Perry-Keene, Payton, Yaxley, Lavin and Gardiner (2015). Diagnostic performance of PCA3, Hepsin and microRNA biomarkers in ejaculate in combination with serum PSA for the detection and triaging of prostate cancer. 68th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Urological-Society-of-Australia-and-New Zealand, Adelaide, AUSTRALIA, APR 11-14, 2015. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.
2015
Conference Publication
True false negative of MRI scans for prostate cancer screening. How often does MRI miss?
Scott, S., Samaratunga, H., Yaxley, J., Gianduzzo, T., Kua, B., Coughlin, G. and Breckenridge, M. (2015). True false negative of MRI scans for prostate cancer screening. How often does MRI miss?. 68th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand, Adelaide, SA Australia, 11-14 April 2015. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1111/bju.13072
2015
Conference Publication
Systematic review and meta-analysis of immunohistochemical biomarkers in differentiation and diagnosis of chromophobe renal cell carcinoma and renal oncocytoma
Ng, K., Bernard, A., Morais, C., Samaratunga, H., Gobe, G. and Wood, S. (2015). Systematic review and meta-analysis of immunohistochemical biomarkers in differentiation and diagnosis of chromophobe renal cell carcinoma and renal oncocytoma. 68th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand, Adelaide, SA Australia, 11-14 April 2015. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/bju.13073
2015
Journal Article
Active surveillance for prostate cancer: the role of the pathologist
Delahunt, Brett, Hammond, Elizabeth, Egevad, Lars, Samaratunga, Hemamali, Srigley, John R., Humphrey, Peter A., Rubin, Mark, Epstein, Jonathan I., Lin, Daniel W., Gore, John L., Nacey, John N., Klotz, Laurence, Sandler, Howard, Zietman, Anthony L., Holden, Stuart, Montironi, Rodolfo, Evans, Andrew J., McKenney, Jesse K., Berney, Dan, Wheeler, Thomas M., Chinnaiyan, Arul M., True, Lawrence, Knudsen, Beatrice and Amin, Mahul B. (2015). Active surveillance for prostate cancer: the role of the pathologist. Pathology, 47 (1), 1-3. doi: 10.1097/PAT.0000000000000186
2015
Conference Publication
Significance of NF kappa B isoform p65 as a biomarker for renal cancers in a cohort of Malaysian patients
Ng, K., Small, D., Morais, C., Samaratunga, H., Yap, N. Y., Rajandram, R., Pailoor, J., Razack, A. H., Gobe, G. and Wood, S. (2015). Significance of NF kappa B isoform p65 as a biomarker for renal cancers in a cohort of Malaysian patients. 68th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand, Adelaide, SA Australia, 11-14 April 2015. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom Publisher Wiley-Blackwell Publishing: Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom Publisher Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/bju.13073
2015
Journal Article
Pleomorphic giant cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder: an extreme form of tumour de-differentiation
Samaratunga, Hemamali, Delahunt, Brett, Egevad, Lars, Adamson, Michael, Hussey, David, Malone, Greg, Hoyle, Kirsten, Nathan, Tim, Kerle, David, Ferguson, Peter and Nacey, John N. (2015). Pleomorphic giant cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder: an extreme form of tumour de-differentiation. Histopathology, 68 (4), 533-540. doi: 10.1111/his.12785
2015
Conference Publication
Utility of cytokeratin 7, leptin and caveolin-1 biomarkers in differentiation of chromophobe renal cell carcinoma and renal oncocytoma
Ng, K. L., Small, D., Morais, C., Samaratunga, H., Gobe, G. and Wood, S. (2015). Utility of cytokeratin 7, leptin and caveolin-1 biomarkers in differentiation of chromophobe renal cell carcinoma and renal oncocytoma. 24th Malaysian Urological Conference (MUC), Malaysia, Nov 19, 2015. West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2014
Journal Article
Optimising pre-analytical factors affecting quality of prostate biopsies: the case for site specific labelling and single core submission
Srigley, John R., Delahunt, Brett, Egevad, Lars, Samaratunga, Hemamali and Evans, Andrew J. (2014). Optimising pre-analytical factors affecting quality of prostate biopsies: the case for site specific labelling and single core submission. Pathology, 46 (7), 579-580. doi: 10.1097/PAT.0000000000000183
2014
Journal Article
Les tumeurs rénales : recommandations de la conférence de consensus de l’International Society of Urologic Pathology (ISUP) 2012 = Renal tumors: The International Society of Urologic Pathology (ISUP) 2012 consensus conference recommendations
Rioux-Leclercq, Nathalie, Ferran, Algaba, Mahul, Amin, Argani, Pedram, Billis, Athanase, Bonsib, Stephen, Cheng, Liang, Cheville, John, Eble, John, Egevad, Lars, Epstein, Jonathan, Grignon, David, Hes, Ondrej, Humphrey, Peter, Magi-Galluzzi, Cristina, Martignoni, Guido, McKenney, Jesse, Merino, Maria, Moch, Holger, Montironi, Rodolfo, Netto, George, Reuter, Viktor, Samaratunga, Hemamali, Shen, Steven, Srigley, John, Tamboli, Pheroze, Tan, Puay Hoon, Tickoo, Satish, Trpkov, Kiril ... Comperat, Eva (2014). Les tumeurs rénales : recommandations de la conférence de consensus de l’International Society of Urologic Pathology (ISUP) 2012 = Renal tumors: The International Society of Urologic Pathology (ISUP) 2012 consensus conference recommendations. Annales de Pathologie, 34 (6), 448-461. doi: 10.1016/j.annpat.2014.10.003
2014
Journal Article
Value of uroplakin III in distinguishing variants of primary bladder urothelial carcinoma from malignancy metastatic to the urinary bladder
Klopfer, Kiara, Delahunt, Brett, Adamson, Michael and Samaratunga, Hemamali (2014). Value of uroplakin III in distinguishing variants of primary bladder urothelial carcinoma from malignancy metastatic to the urinary bladder. Anticancer Research, 34 (11), 6779-6784.
2014
Journal Article
Effective maybe, but is it cost-effective? A reply
Perry-Keene, Joanna, Ferguson, Peter, Samaratunga, Hemamali, Nacey, John N. and Delahunt, Brett (2014). Effective maybe, but is it cost-effective? A reply. Histopathology, 65 (5), 729-730. doi: 10.1111/his.12438
2014
Journal Article
Consensus statement with recommendations on active surveillance inclusion criteria and definition of progression in men with localized prostate cancer: the critical role of the pathologist
Montironi, Rodolfo, Hammond, Elizabeth H., Lin, Daniel W., Gore, John L., Srigley, John R., Samaratunga, Hema, Egevad, Lars, Rubin, Mark A., Nacey, John, Klotz, Laurence, Sandler, Howard, Zietman, Anthony L., Holden, Stuart, Humphrey, Peter A., Evans, Andrew J., Delahunt, Brett, McKenney, Jesse K., Berney, Daniel, Wheeler, Thomas M., Chinnaiyan, Arul, True, Lawrence, Knudsen, Beatrice, Epstein, Jonathan I. and Amin, Mahul B. (2014). Consensus statement with recommendations on active surveillance inclusion criteria and definition of progression in men with localized prostate cancer: the critical role of the pathologist. Virchows Archiv, 465 (6), 623-628. doi: 10.1007/s00428-014-1668-5
2014
Journal Article
The critical role of the pathologist in determining eligibility for active surveillance as a management option in patients with prostate cancer: consensus statement with recommendations supported by the College of American Pathologists, International Soci
Amin, Mahul B., Lin, Daniel W., Gore, John L., Srigley, John R., Samaratunga, Hema, Egevad, Lars, Rubin, Mark, Nacey, John, Carter, H. Ballentine, Klotz, Laurence, Sandler, Howard, Zietman, Anthony L., Holden, Stuart, Montironi, Rodolfo, Humphrey, Peter A., Evans, Andrew J., Epstein, Jonathan I., Delahunt, Brett, McKenney, Jesse K., Berney, Dan, Wheeler, Thomas M., Chinnaiyan, Arul M., True, Lawrence, Knudsen, Beatrice and Hammond, M. Elizabeth H. (2014). The critical role of the pathologist in determining eligibility for active surveillance as a management option in patients with prostate cancer: consensus statement with recommendations supported by the College of American Pathologists, International Soci. Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, 138 (10), 1387-1405. doi: 10.5858/arpa.2014-0219-SA
2014
Journal Article
Percutaneous renal tumour biopsy
Delahunt, Brett, Samaratunga, Hemamali, Martignoni, Guido, Srigley, John R., Evans, Andrew J. and Brunelli, Matteo (2014). Percutaneous renal tumour biopsy. Histopathology, 65 (3), 295-308. doi: 10.1111/his.12495
2014
Journal Article
Diagnostic criteria for ductal adenocarcinoma of the prostate: interobserver variability among 20 expert uropathologists
Seipel, Amanda H., Delahunt, Brett, Samaratunga, Hemamali, Amin, Mahul, Barton, Joel, Berney, Daniel M., Billis, Athanase, Cheng, Liang, Comperat, Eva, Evans, Andrew, Fine, Samson W., Grignon, David, Humphrey, Peter A., Magi-Galluzzi, Cristina, Montironi, Rodolfo, Sesterhenn, Isabell, Srigley, John R., Trpkov, Kiril, van der Kwast, Theo, Varma, Murali, Zhou, Ming, Ahmad, Amar, Moss, Sue and Egevad, Lars (2014). Diagnostic criteria for ductal adenocarcinoma of the prostate: interobserver variability among 20 expert uropathologists. Histopathology, 65 (2), 216-227. doi: 10.1111/his.12382
2014
Journal Article
Immunohistochemical profile of ductal adenocarcinoma of the prostate
Seipel, Amanda H., Samaratunga, Hemamali, Delahunt, Brett, Wiklund, Fredrik, Wiklund, Peter, Lindberg, Johan, Grönberg, Henrik and Egevad, Lars (2014). Immunohistochemical profile of ductal adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Virchows Archiv, 465 (5), 559-565. doi: 10.1007/s00428-014-1636-0
2014
Journal Article
A progress report on a prospective randomised trial of open and robotic prostatectomy
Gardiner, Robert A., Coughlin, Geoffrey D., Yaxley, John W., Dunglison, Nigel T., Occhipinti, Stefano, Younie, Sandra J., Carter, Rob C., Williams, Scott G., Medcraft, Robyn J., Samaratunga, Hema M., Perry-Keene, Joanna L., Payton, Diane J., Lavin, Martin F. and Chambers, Suzanne K. (2014). A progress report on a prospective randomised trial of open and robotic prostatectomy. European Urology, 65 (3), 512-515. doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2013.10.031
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Hemamali Samaratunga is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Completed supervision
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring Resistance of Renal Cell Carcinoma to Sunitinib Therapy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor David Vesey
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Cellular and molecular mechanisms of pancreatitis in atrophy and regeneration
Associate Advisor
Media
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