Kumari Ubhayasekera
Researcher at Department of Chemistry for Life Sciences; Analytical Chemistry; Bergquist group
- Telephone:
- +46 18 471 36 88
- E-mail:
- kumari.ubhayasekera@kemi.uu.se
- Visiting address:
- Husargatan 3 (D5)
752 37 Uppsala - Postal address:
- Box 599
75124 Uppsala
Biography
Education
BSc (Honors) in Chemistry, 1996, Department of Chemistry, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka
MSc in Chemistry, 2004, Department of Food Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
PhD in Food Science with specialization in Food Chemistry, 2009, Department of Food Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden (Thesis: http://diss-epsilon.slu.se:8080/archive/00002066/)
Expertise
Lipid analysis (cholesterol, phytosterols, oxycholesterols, oxyphytosterols and other lipids) .
Currently I work in the research group of Prof. Jonas Bergquist
1. Mainly with lipidomics and metabolomics based research
2. EU project titled “Beta-cell function in juvenile diabetes and obesity (Beta JUDO)”.
We work on the lipidomics research of the multi disciplinary Beta-JUDO Project. The aim of this EU project (FP7-HEALTH.2011.2.4.3-2) is to develop innovative therapeutic strategies through the increase of pharmacology-based alternatives targeting insulin hypersecretion for the treatment of young obese individuals.
The project is coordinated by Prof. Peter Bergsten from the Department of Medical Cell Biology http://www.mcb.uu.se, in collaboration with partners in Austria, Germany, Luxemburg, the United Kingdom, Sweden and Switzerland. Visit (http://betajudo.org/) for more information.
3. Determination of Imatinib concentration in plasma from cancer patients and extraction recoveries of Imatinib from human cells.
Imatinib, commercially available as Gleevec, Glivec, STI571, is an anti-cancer drug that selectively blocks c-kit and BCR/ABL tyrosine kinases. Imatinib is taken orally and its concentration in blood has to be within a certain range (500 – 1000 ng/ml for CML patients) in order to get a clinical response. Imatinib concentration in cancer patients treated within the recommended dosage varies depending on several factors: rate of drug metabolism, body weight, sex, etc. Evidently, monitoring Imatinib concentration in plasma would assist in adjusting dosage for individual patient and avoiding possible side effects associated with it. We have developed a quantification method using LC-MS/MS.
4.Steroids and oxidation products

Publications
Recent publications
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Part of Endocrine-Related Cancer, 2026
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Part of Neurochemistry International, 2026
- DOI for 24-Hydroxycholesterol suppresses steroid 5α-reductase-catalyzed conversion in human glioblastoma cell lines: A novel link between brain cholesterol homeostasis and androgen metabolism
- Download full text (pdf) of 24-Hydroxycholesterol suppresses steroid 5α-reductase-catalyzed conversion in human glioblastoma cell lines: A novel link between brain cholesterol homeostasis and androgen metabolism
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Part of Journal of Translational Medicine, 2025
- DOI for Steroid dynamics in myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome: a case-control study using ultra performance supercritical fluid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry
- Download full text (pdf) of Steroid dynamics in myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome: a case-control study using ultra performance supercritical fluid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry
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Part of Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, p. 1461-1478, 2025
- DOI for Comprehensive quantification of C4 to C26 free fatty acids using a supercritical fluid chromatography-mass spectrometry method in pharmaceutical-grade egg yolk powders intended for total parenteral nutrition use
- Download full text (pdf) of Comprehensive quantification of C4 to C26 free fatty acids using a supercritical fluid chromatography-mass spectrometry method in pharmaceutical-grade egg yolk powders intended for total parenteral nutrition use
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Part of Journal of chromatography. B, 2025
- DOI for Targeted analysis of seven selected tryptophan-melatonin metabolites: Simultaneous quantification of plasma analytes using fast and sensitive UHPLC-MS/MS
- Download full text (pdf) of Targeted analysis of seven selected tryptophan-melatonin metabolites: Simultaneous quantification of plasma analytes using fast and sensitive UHPLC-MS/MS
All publications
Articles in journal
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Part of Endocrine-Related Cancer, 2026
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Part of Neurochemistry International, 2026
- DOI for 24-Hydroxycholesterol suppresses steroid 5α-reductase-catalyzed conversion in human glioblastoma cell lines: A novel link between brain cholesterol homeostasis and androgen metabolism
- Download full text (pdf) of 24-Hydroxycholesterol suppresses steroid 5α-reductase-catalyzed conversion in human glioblastoma cell lines: A novel link between brain cholesterol homeostasis and androgen metabolism
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Part of Journal of Translational Medicine, 2025
- DOI for Steroid dynamics in myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome: a case-control study using ultra performance supercritical fluid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry
- Download full text (pdf) of Steroid dynamics in myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome: a case-control study using ultra performance supercritical fluid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry
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Part of Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, p. 1461-1478, 2025
- DOI for Comprehensive quantification of C4 to C26 free fatty acids using a supercritical fluid chromatography-mass spectrometry method in pharmaceutical-grade egg yolk powders intended for total parenteral nutrition use
- Download full text (pdf) of Comprehensive quantification of C4 to C26 free fatty acids using a supercritical fluid chromatography-mass spectrometry method in pharmaceutical-grade egg yolk powders intended for total parenteral nutrition use
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Part of Journal of chromatography. B, 2025
- DOI for Targeted analysis of seven selected tryptophan-melatonin metabolites: Simultaneous quantification of plasma analytes using fast and sensitive UHPLC-MS/MS
- Download full text (pdf) of Targeted analysis of seven selected tryptophan-melatonin metabolites: Simultaneous quantification of plasma analytes using fast and sensitive UHPLC-MS/MS
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Part of American Journal of Reproductive Immunology, 2024
- DOI for Elevated Plasma Levels of Arginines During Labor Among Women with Spontaneous Preterm Birth: A Prospective Cohort Study
- Download full text (pdf) of Elevated Plasma Levels of Arginines During Labor Among Women with Spontaneous Preterm Birth: A Prospective Cohort Study
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Part of Analytical Methods, p. 1074-1082, 2024
- DOI for Analysis of tryptophan metabolites and related compounds in human and murine tissue: development and validation of a quantitative and semi-quantitative method using high resolution mass spectrometry
- Download full text (pdf) of Analysis of tryptophan metabolites and related compounds in human and murine tissue: development and validation of a quantitative and semi-quantitative method using high resolution mass spectrometry
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Part of Biomedicines, 2023
- DOI for Hyperandrogenic Symptoms Are a Persistent Suffering in Midlife Women with PCOS; a Prospective Cohort Study in Sweden
- Download full text (pdf) of Hyperandrogenic Symptoms Are a Persistent Suffering in Midlife Women with PCOS; a Prospective Cohort Study in Sweden
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Part of American Journal of Reproductive Immunology, 2023
- DOI for Plasma levels of arginines at term pregnancy in relation to mode of onset of labor and mode of childbirth
- Download full text (pdf) of Plasma levels of arginines at term pregnancy in relation to mode of onset of labor and mode of childbirth
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Part of Analytical Methods, p. 2480-2489, 2023
- DOI for Simultaneous determination of 22 fatty acids in total parenteral nutrition (TPN) components by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
- Download full text (pdf) of Simultaneous determination of 22 fatty acids in total parenteral nutrition (TPN) components by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
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Part of International journal of food science & technology, p. 5168-5182, 2023
- DOI for Comparison of nutritional and trace element concentrations in some Sri Lankan traditional rice varieties
- Download full text (pdf) of Comparison of nutritional and trace element concentrations in some Sri Lankan traditional rice varieties
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Part of Journal of chromatography. B, 2023
- DOI for A fast ultra performance supercritical fluid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric method for profiling of targeted phytosterols
- Download full text (pdf) of A fast ultra performance supercritical fluid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric method for profiling of targeted phytosterols
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Part of Biomedicines, 2022
- DOI for Endogenous Levels of Gamma Amino-Butyric Acid Are Correlated to Glutamic-Acid Decarboxylase Antibody Levels in Type 1 Diabetes
- Download full text (pdf) of Endogenous Levels of Gamma Amino-Butyric Acid Are Correlated to Glutamic-Acid Decarboxylase Antibody Levels in Type 1 Diabetes
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Part of Reproductive BioMedicine Online, p. 217-225, 2021
- DOI for Pregnancy outcome in women with polycystic ovary syndrome in relation to second-trimester testosterone levels
- Download full text (pdf) of Pregnancy outcome in women with polycystic ovary syndrome in relation to second-trimester testosterone levels
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Functional properties of low-modulus PMMA bone cements containing linoleic acid
Part of Journal of Functional Biomaterials, 2021
- DOI for Functional properties of low-modulus PMMA bone cements containing linoleic acid
- Download full text (pdf) of Functional properties of low-modulus PMMA bone cements containing linoleic acid
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Part of Genetics, 2021
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Part of Pharmacology Research & Perspectives, 2021
- DOI for Phase 1 study to access safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of kynurenine in healthy volunteers
- Download full text (pdf) of Phase 1 study to access safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of kynurenine in healthy volunteers
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Part of BMC Veterinary Research, 2021
- DOI for Concentrations of canine prostate specific esterase, CPSE, at baseline are associated with the relative size of the prostate at three-year follow-up
- Download full text (pdf) of Concentrations of canine prostate specific esterase, CPSE, at baseline are associated with the relative size of the prostate at three-year follow-up
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Part of iScience, 2021
- DOI for Inhibition of fatty acid synthesis induces differentiation and reduces tumor burden in childhood neuroblastoma
- Download full text (pdf) of Inhibition of fatty acid synthesis induces differentiation and reduces tumor burden in childhood neuroblastoma
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Hormonal determinants of mammographic density and density change
Part of Breast Cancer Research, 2020
- DOI for Hormonal determinants of mammographic density and density change
- Download full text (pdf) of Hormonal determinants of mammographic density and density change
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Part of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, p. 574-581, 2020
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Part of Reproductive BioMedicine Online, p. 141-148, 2019
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Acute effects of methcathinone and manganese in mice: A dose response study
Part of Heliyon, 2019
- DOI for Acute effects of methcathinone and manganese in mice: A dose response study
- Download full text (pdf) of Acute effects of methcathinone and manganese in mice: A dose response study
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Part of Pediatric Diabetes, p. 880-891, 2019
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Part of Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 2019
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Part of JNCI Cancer Spectrum, 2018
- DOI for Inclusion of Plasma Prolactin Levels in Current Risk Prediction Models of Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Breast Cancer
- Download full text (pdf) of Inclusion of Plasma Prolactin Levels in Current Risk Prediction Models of Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Breast Cancer
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Part of Scientific Reports, 2018
- DOI for A Novel Targeted Analysis of Peripheral Steroids by Ultra-Performance Supercritical Fluid Chromatography Hyphenated to Tandem Mass Spectrometry
- Download full text (pdf) of A Novel Targeted Analysis of Peripheral Steroids by Ultra-Performance Supercritical Fluid Chromatography Hyphenated to Tandem Mass Spectrometry
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Part of The Analyst, p. 3661-3669, 2018
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Part of Journal of Lipid Research, p. 2275-2288, 2017
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Part of Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, p. 52-58, 2017
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Part of European Journal of Endocrinology, p. 379-388, 2017
- DOI for Maternal and female fetal testosterone levels are associated with maternal age and gestational weight gain
- Download full text (pdf) of Maternal and female fetal testosterone levels are associated with maternal age and gestational weight gain
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Part of G3, p. 497-504, 2017
- DOI for Genetic and Targeted eQTL Mapping Reveals Strong Candidate Genes Modulating the Stress Response During Chicken Domestication
- Download full text (pdf) of Genetic and Targeted eQTL Mapping Reveals Strong Candidate Genes Modulating the Stress Response During Chicken Domestication
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Part of PLOS ONE, 2017
- DOI for Combined lipidomic and proteomic analysis of isolated human islets exposed to palmitate reveals time-dependent changes in insulin secretion and lipid metabolism
- Download full text (pdf) of Combined lipidomic and proteomic analysis of isolated human islets exposed to palmitate reveals time-dependent changes in insulin secretion and lipid metabolism
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Part of Psychoneuroendocrinology, p. 142-149, 2016
- DOI for Tandem mass spectrometry determined maternal cortisone to cortisol ratio and psychiatric morbidity during pregnancy-interaction with birth weight
- Download full text (pdf) of Tandem mass spectrometry determined maternal cortisone to cortisol ratio and psychiatric morbidity during pregnancy-interaction with birth weight
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Part of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, p. 230-238, 2016
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Motor neuron-like NSC-34 cells as a new model for the study of vitamin D metabolism in the brain.
Part of Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, p. 178-188, 2016
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Part of Pediatric Research, p. 267-274, 2016
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Part of Analytical Methods, p. 3046-3054, 2016
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Part of Clinical Sarcoma Research, 2016
- DOI for Clinical implications of repeated drug monitoring of imatinib in patients with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumour
- Download full text (pdf) of Clinical implications of repeated drug monitoring of imatinib in patients with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumour
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Domestication Effects on Stress Induced Steroid Secretion and Adrenal Gene Expression in Chickens
Part of Scientific Reports, 2015
- DOI for Domestication Effects on Stress Induced Steroid Secretion and Adrenal Gene Expression in Chickens
- Download full text (pdf) of Domestication Effects on Stress Induced Steroid Secretion and Adrenal Gene Expression in Chickens
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Part of Endocrinology, p. 802-812, 2015
- DOI for Palmitate-induced impairments of beta-cell function are linked with generation of specific ceramide species via acylation of sphingosine
- Download full text (pdf) of Palmitate-induced impairments of beta-cell function are linked with generation of specific ceramide species via acylation of sphingosine
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Part of Anti-Cancer Drugs, p. 415-22, 2014
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Production of Squalene in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803
Part of PLoS ONE, 2014
- DOI for Production of Squalene in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803
- Download full text (pdf) of Production of Squalene in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803
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Free fatty acid determination in plasma by GC-MS after conversion to Weinreb amides
Part of Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, p. 1929-1935, 2013
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Part of Journal of the American Oil Chemists Society, p. 1427-1433, 2012
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High cholesterol oxidation in pickled mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) from Sri Lanka
Part of European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology, p. 695-700, 2012
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Part of Nutrition Focus Newsletter, Nutrition Society of Sri Lanka, p. 5, 2011
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Part of Food Chemistry, p. 1198-1202, 2010
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Part of Journal of the American Oil Chemists Society, p. 173-184, 2010
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Part of Journal of the American Oil Chemists Society, p. 595-604, 2009
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Part of International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, p. 451-458, 2006
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Evaluation of GC and GC-MS methods for the analysis of cholesterol oxidation products
Part of Food Chemistry, p. 149-157, 2004
Chapters in book
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Analysis of oxidized sterols in frying oils
Part of FRYING OILS – ANALYSIS (on-line chapter), The American Oil Chemists' Society, 2010
Conference papers
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Oxidation of Plant Sterols in the Industrial By-products of Edible Fats and Oils
Part of 101st AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo, Phoenix, Arizona, USA, May 16-19, 2010, AOCS Abstract, p. 17, 2010
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2008
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2008
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Part of Book of Abstracts, p. 298, 2007
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Sterol oxidation products in feeding fat samples obtained from various sources in Europe
Part of De nationella Livsmedelsforskardagarna 2006, Svensk livsmedelsforskning bär frukt, 2006
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2005