Priya N. Werahera, PhD

Priya N. Werahera, PhD

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Aurora, Colorado

Priya N. Werahera, PhD, is a Research Associate Professor (Retired) in the Departments of Pathology and Bioengineering at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. He received his PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering in 1994. His main research interests are biomedical imaging, optical spectroscopy, bioinstrumentation, computer modeling, and nanotechnologies for cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.

Dr. Werahera is a renowned leader in clinical translational research in prostate cancer diagnosis and therapy with over 30 years of experience. He developed a novel computer algorithm and methodology to create equivalent 3D computer models of human prostate specimens. One of his major accomplishments is the proof-of-concept work on template-guided transperineal mapping biopsy protocol to identify low-risk prostate cancer patients. Additionally, Dr. Werahera led a team of investigators that measured prostate tumor growth rates in humans to find out whether there is a difference in growth rates of latent versus aggressive prostate cancer, proving that maximum tumor doubling times of latent and prostate tumors are not significantly different, as was previously thought.

Dr. Werahera has prototyped a minimally invasive 16g optical biopsy needle capable of diagnosing prostate cancer with very high sensitivity and specificity by inserting an optical sensor at the tip of a biopsy needle (US patent). Additionally, he is the Chief Science Officer (CSO) and Consultant of PreView Medical Inc., a startup company which has licensed this technology and is working on development of ClariCore Optical Biopsy System™ for real-time diagnosis of prostate cancer. Dr. Werahera has written over 60 peer-reviewed journal and conference publications. He is a Senior Life Member of the Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Talks by Priya N. Werahera, PhD

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Diagnosis of Urologic Cancer – Current Trends and Future Perspectives

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Diagnosis of Urologic Cancer – Current Trends and Future Perspectives

Posted by | Nov 2024

Priya N. Werahera, PhD emphasizes integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into clinical practice, highlighting this evolving field’s potential benefits and challenges. In this 13-minute presentation, Dr. Werahera underscores that AI must be carefully balanced with the expertise of doctors and pathologists, a crucial part of the diagnostic and decision-making processes.

Dr. Werehera discusses both Virtual AI (diagnosis, symptom management) and Physical AI (robotic surgery, nanotechnology for drug delivery). He notes the benefits of integrating AI into practice, such as precision diagnoses, individualized therapies, and cost savings. He also discusses the importance of supervised and unsupervised learning for AI models, providing a renal cancer example to illustrate different approaches using AI.

Looking towards the future, the speaker expresses optimism about AI’s potential to transform healthcare by enhancing diagnostic accuracy, improving patient outcomes, and streamlining healthcare delivery. This collaborative approach, where AI supports but does not supplant clinicians, is seen as the key to unlocking a bright future in healthcare characterized by innovation and improved quality of care.

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Updates with Addressing the Microbiome

Updates with Addressing the Microbiome

Posted by | Sep 2024

Priya N. Werahera, PhD, explores the characterization of urinary microbiomes in healthy individuals and their implications for understanding disease processes such as urinary tract infections (UTIs) and other urologic conditions. In this 10-minute talk, he shares that urogenital microbiota, residing in the urinary and genital tracts, is now better understood due to advancements in next-generation sequencing.

The study identified urinary microbiomes in healthy men and women. Dr. Werahera discusses key findings, including identifying 609 species dominated by four major phyla and notable differences in microbial profiles between genders. This data encourages further discussion, questioning whether medication, gender, or age affect microbiome profiles.

The findings suggest that a one-size-fits-all approach is inadequate; instead, personalized assessment of urinary microbiomes, considering individual patient factors, is crucial for accurately diagnosing and managing bladder-related symptoms and infections.

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MRI-Invisible Prostate Cancer and Use of Biomarkers to Identify Potential Candidates

MRI-Invisible Prostate Cancer and Use of Biomarkers to Identify Potential Candidates

Posted by | Aug 2024

Priya N. Werahera, PhD, discusses the challenges of MRI-invisible prostate cancer and biomarkers in prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment. His discussion highlights the limitations of current imaging techniques and the approaches being developed to overcome these obstacles.
Dr. Werahera begins by addressing the inherent difficulties in detecting prostate cancer lesions that evade MRI visibility. He emphasizes the role of biomarkers, which can reveal the presence of cancerous changes even when imaging results appear normal, as a complementary tool to imaging techniques.
By combining biomarker analysis with existing imaging techniques, clinicians can achieve a higher diagnostic yield and better tailor treatment strategies to individual patients. Dr. Werahera calls for collaborative efforts to validate and standardize biomarker use, ensuring their reliability and accessibility in routine clinical practice.

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The Microbiome and Prostate Cancer

The Microbiome and Prostate Cancer

Posted by | Aug 2023

Priya N. Werahera, PhD, presents a comprehensive discussion on the role of microbiomes in cancer, highlighting the sensitivity of detection methods and their potential in cancer research. Microbes have been found in cancer tissues and are implicated in the hallmarks of cancer. Analyzing samples using advanced techniques like NextGen sequencing has improved the identification of microbial DNA, facilitating a deeper understanding of the composition of microbiomes in cancer patients.

Studies have shown significant differences in the microbiomes of cancer patients compared to controls, emphasizing the potential diagnostic and therapeutic implications. Specific bacteria, such as Acne bacterium and F. Magna, have been associated with inflammation and soy metabolism, respectively, indicating their clinical significance in cancer. Further research, including analyzing EPS samples and frozen tissue samples, holds promise in unraveling the complex interplay between microbiomes and cancer development.

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ExactVu™ Micro-Ultrasound for Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer

Posted by | Apr 2022

Priya N. Werahera, PhD, Research Associate Professor in the Departments of Pathology and Bioengineering at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, discusses the advantages of using the ExactVu micro-ultrasound platform to diagnose prostate cancer. First, he considers whether MRI imaging can be considered standard of care, arguing that it cannot be seen as such since many cancers are MRI-invisible, it is not cost effective, the technology remains in evolution, and there is high interobserver variability among radiologists. Dr. Werahera then turns to micro-ultrasound, explaining that the new ExactVu system is a 29 MHz machine which provides real-time imaging of prostate cancer lesions, has a high resolution of 70 microns, and can provide both lateral and axial resolution. He cites a meta-analysis which shows that micro-ultrasound is a relatively convenient and cost-effective method of real-time imaging which is highly sensitive in detecting clinically significant prostate cancer. Dr. Werahera then discusses a study at the University of Colorado comparing micro-ultrasound lesions vs. histopathology data of mapping biopsy which found that PRIMUS scores 4-5 have 100% sensitivity at the patient-level and 80% sensitivity at lesion-level for diagnosis of ≥ Gleason Grade 2 prostate cancer lesions. There were 2 undiagnosed Gleason Grade 2 lesions, both of which were small and located anteriorly. Dr. Werahera concludes that ExactVu micro-ultrasound has the potential to improve current imaging standards since it has comparable screening performance to MRI and comparable biopsy performance to MRI fusion, while also allowing for easier, more effective micro-ultrasound/MRI fusion. He also notes that ExactVu micro-ultrasound may enable widespread focal therapy due to its high accuracy in finding satellite lesions and lesion boundaries.

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