Rate My Professor Nadeeka Dissanayaka

Professor Nadeeka Dissanayaka is a UQ Amplify Professorial Research Fellow in the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Queensland. She earned a Bachelor of Science (Advanced Honours) and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Queensland, with her PhD thesis titled 'Depression in Parkinson's disease: assessment methods and risk factors' completed in 2008 in the School of Medicine. As founder and director of the Dementia & Neuro Mental Health Research Unit at the University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, she leads clinical research programs in neurodegenerative conditions. She also directs the UQ Dementia Friendly University Initiative, making UQ the first university globally recognized as dementia-friendly. Her career includes chairing the UQCCR Research Committee, founding and formerly chairing the UQCCR Consumer & Community Involvement Committee, serving on the Faculty research committee, and acting as strategic advisor to the Australian Dementia Network early- to mid-career researcher Accelerator Group. She is a peer reviewer for over 20 journals and NHMRC grants, and holds memberships in the Australian Cognitive Neurosciences Society and International Movement Disorders Society.

Professor Dissanayaka's research expertise encompasses multidisciplinary domains from basic science—pharmacology, genetics, cognitive neuroscience, neuroimaging—to clinical areas like psychology, psychiatry, neurology, clinical trials, and implementation science. Key focuses include evaluation and treatment of behavioural and psychological symptoms in dementia, especially anxiety and depression; neuropsychiatric manifestations in Parkinson's disease such as anxiety, depression, cognitive dysfunction, sleep, and impulse control disorders; neurobiological underpinnings of cognitive and emotional impairments; and innovative interventions using telehealth, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and biofeedback. She has developed tools like the Parkinson’s disease-specific anxiety inventory, MHICare benchmarking tool for residential aged care, and guidelines for dementia diagnosis in Parkinson’s disease, alongside psychotherapy manuals for cognitive behavioural and mindfulness therapies. Notable publications include 'The clinical spectrum of anxiety in Parkinson's disease' (2014), 'Anxiety is associated with cognitive impairment in newly diagnosed Parkinson's disease' (2017), 'Recommendations to improve healthcare service provision for cognitive impairment in people with Parkinson's disease' (2026), and 'Best practice guidelines for the diagnosis, evaluation, and management of cognitive disorders in Parkinson's disease' (2026). Awards encompass the NARSAD Young Investigator International Award (2018), Outstanding Young Researcher Awards (2013, 2015, 2023), Outstanding UQCCR PhD Supervisor Award (2020), and Faculty of Medicine Future Leaders Award (2021), with funding from three competitive fellowships including NHMRC and 25 grants as lead investigator.