Centre for Meditation Research at University of Colombo; revealing to world how meditation can heal

Prof. Dilshani Dissanayake

In this interview with Prof. Dilshani Dissanayake, the Founding Director of the Centre for Meditation Research (CMR), Faculty of Medicine of the University of Colombo, we attempt to understand the link between meditation and human health.

Prof. Dilshani Dissanayake is the current Head of the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo and the founder director of the Research Promotion and Facilitation Centre (RPFC) and the neuroscientist in charge of the neuroscience research laboratory of the Faculty of Medicine, Colombo.

Prof. Dissanayake obtained her medical degree (MBBS) from the Faculty of Medicine, Colombo and obtained her PhD in neuroscience from the University of Nottingham, UK. While teaching the functionality of brain to medical, para-medical and post-graduate students, she is developing a pool of committed MPhil and PhD scholars in neuroscience. Her neuroscience research laboratory and her own interest in Buddhist meditation led her to examine the link between human health and meditation.

Prof. Dilshani Dissanayake contributes to promote and facilitate a positive and holistic research culture in the faculty as the founder-director of the Centre for Meditation Centre (CMC) and has embarked on several unique research themes within the medical sphere.

Prof. Dissanayake is a recipient of several grants and awards including a grant to establish the neuroscience research laboratory, a co-recipient of a grant to establish physiotherapy research laboratory, principal investigator of research grants from the National Science Foundation and the University of Colombo, Commonwealth fellowship at the clinical neurophysiology unit, Kings College London, UK and presidential awards for research publications.

Prof. Dissanayake is currently leading a multidisciplinary team of researchers in the University of Colombo, on a World Bank funded project to assess the effects of meditation on health.

Her research interests are focused on the sensory processing in the CNS, meditation, schizophrenia and cannabis, diabetic neuropathy and related complications, cognition and falls and animal modelling of sensory processing deficits in CNS. She has also contributed to international studies and publications on mathematical and computer modelling of CNS diseases to minimise the use of animal models.

Under her leadership some of the ongoing research at the Centre for Meditation Research (CMR) include Telomere length, gene expression, profile and DNA methylation status of selected genes in a Sri Lankan group of practitioners of meditation and mindfulness techniques. The effect of meditation on immunity, neurochemicals and hormones, how meditation impacts cardiorespiratory parameters, effect of meditation on neuropsychological diseases such as epilepsy and Parkinson as well as on patients with type 2 diabetes. 

The new research projects being introduced through the Centre for Meditation Research include the role of meditation in modulating neurogenic regulation of intraocular pressure, extraocular muscle activity, acular circulation and quality of life in patients with primary open angle glaucoma and effectiveness of swallowing focused mindfulness training for adults with dysphagia following stroke. 

Q: Please introduce your interest in the link between meditation and health.

A: Our interest in the connection between meditation and health arises from a growing body of scientific evidence demonstrating that meditation can significantly influence both mental and physical well-being. At the Centre for Meditation Research (CMR), we aim to systematically explore these effects, from genetic expression to human behaviour. Our research investigates the underlying mechanisms by which meditation regulates stress responses, enhances emotional well-being, and influences physiological systems such as immunity, neuroplasticity, and autonomic nervous system function.

Beyond physiological and psychological outcomes, we also study the broader behavioural impacts of meditation, including its relationship with education, engagement with the natural environment, and the promotion of social harmony. We are particularly focused on examining culturally rooted meditation practices indigenous to Sri Lanka, applying rigorous scientific methods to understand and integrate them into both clinical and community health frameworks.

Q:  Could you explain how the Centre for Meditation Research at the University of Colombo under the leadership of the Faculty of Medicine began?

A: The Centre for Meditation Research (CMR) was established within the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, following the success of a multidisciplinary project funded by the World Bank. Launched in 2019. The project brought together 26 researchers from eight departments within the Faculty of Medicine, as well as scholars from three other faculties—Science, Education, and Arts—and the Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IBMBB) of the University of Colombo.

The initiative was coordinated by the Research Promotion and Facilitation Centre (RPFC) of the Faculty of Medicine, with its Director also serving as the project team leader. The project supported seven PhD candidates and two additional postgraduate students. The significant research findings, along with the services provided by the Centre and increasing interest from other funding bodies, led to the formal establishment of the CMR within the Faculty of Medicine.

The Centre is now expanding its presence across the university. Its first branch was opened at the Faculty of Education in March 2025, supported by funding from the Rekhi Foundation for Happiness, USA. We have also commenced a free certificate course open to all interested here and abroad to educate themselves on the science of happiness and meditation funded by the Rekhi Foundation.

Q:  What is the significance of the Centre for Meditation Research globally and regionally?

A: While this is not the first meditation research centre in the world, with notable institutions such as the Centre for Healthy Minds (USA), the Oxford Mindfulness Centre (UK), several Centres in India and a few in Sri Lanka, the CMR at the University of Colombo is distinctive in both its cultural grounding and scientific methodology.

It is among the first Centres in South Asia to be fully integrated within a Faculty of Medicine and dedicated to bridging traditional meditative practices, particularly those rooted in Buddhist mindfulness, with cutting-edge biomedical and psychological research. The Centre employs tools such as neuroimaging, molecular biology, and clinical trials to explore meditation’s effects comprehensively. Its interdisciplinary nature, embedded within a medical faculty and now expanding across academic domains, positions it as a uniquely holistic and culturally contextualised initiative.

Q: Could you cite some key research findings?

A: The CMR-led project initiated in 2019 is the first in the world to assess a wide range of biological, psychological, and environmental variables in a single, carefully selected cohort of meditators. This includes genetics, molecular markers of immunity, neurochemicals, hormones, cardiorespiratory, neurophysiology, endocrine, metabolic, digestive and autonomic nervous system functions, psychological health, connectedness with nature, and even carbon footprint.

Across these diverse domains, we observed significant positive changes associated with regular meditation practice. Additionally, we have conducted clinical trials using meditation-based interventions with both patient populations and community groups, which have yielded strong and encouraging outcomes.

These findings have been disseminated through both local and international scientific journals. As the Centre continues to expand its research scope and collaborative networks, it remains committed to pioneering evidence-based exploration of meditation in the context of modern healthcare.