Dr. DACK Dalukdeniya

President - Institute of Food Science & Technology Sri Lanka 2026 (IFSTSL)

President Elect Institute of Food Science & Technology Sri Lanka 2025 (IFSTSL)

SFA Member at International Scientific Association for Probiotics & Prebiotics (ISAPP)

Associate Member of Royal Society of Chemistry 

Associate Member Applied Microbiology International

Fellow Member of Institute of Food Science & Technology Sri Lanka (IFSTSL)

Secretary Institute of Food Science & Technology Sri Lanka 2018/2019 (IFSTSL)

My research focuses on functional foods and gut microbiology, with particular interest in the role of diet in shaping gut microbial function. I completed my PhD at the University of Reading, UK, where I developed a functional atlas of the human gut microbiota using a multi-platform analytical approach, including NMR spectroscopy and metabolomics. This work explored the functional behaviour of gut bacteria in response to probiotics and prebiotics. Currently, my research investigates the prebiotic potential of underutilised plants in Sri Lanka, aiming to develop novel, gut-friendly functional foods that promote local biodiversity and health. I am also interested in the application of metabolomic tools to understand host-microbe interactions and the mechanisms through which functional foods influence gut health.

My research focuses on functional foods and gut microbiology, with particular interest in the role of diet in shaping gut microbial function. I completed my PhD at the University of Reading, UK, where I developed a functional atlas of the human gut microbiota using a multi-platform analytical approach, including NMR spectroscopy and metabolomics. This work explored the functional behaviour of gut bacteria in response to probiotics and prebiotics. Currently, my research investigates the prebiotic potential of underutilised plants in Sri Lanka, aiming to develop novel, gut-friendly functional foods that promote local biodiversity and health. I am also interested in the application of metabolomic tools to understand host-microbe interactions and the mechanisms through which functional foods influence gut health.

RSC Research Fund Grant : Exploring the prebiotic potential of underutilised fibre-rich plant materials in Sri Lanka for functional food development

Study on human gut microbiota: Characterization of microbial metabolites and their interactions using metabolic profiling approaches.

Royal Society of Chemistry Research Fund Grant 2025

ISAPP Annual Meeting Presented as an SFA member at the main meeting 2024 -Cork Ireland

Best Poster Presenter Analytical Science Network Symposium 2023 - Liverpool UK

YES Young Entrepreneur Scheme UK National Finalist Team and Peoples Choice Winners 2022

3MT Thesis Competition Winner University of Reading UK 2022