Assistant professor
Max Rady College of Medicine
Internal Medicine
University of Manitoba
Room 149 – 800 Sherbrook Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3A 1M4
Phone: 204-787-1851
Fax: 204-787-2475
atisseverasinghe@hsc.mb.ca
Annaliese Tisseverasinghe, MD, FRCPC, MSc
Research summary
Dr. Annaliese Tisseverasinghe is a leading researcher in the field of rheumatic disease, with a particular focus on the psychosocial, lifestyle, and environmental factors that impact these conditions. Her research interests include systemic lupus erythematosus, idiopathic inflammatory myositis, and immune-related adverse events associated with cancer immunotherapy.
Her groundbreaking research is aimed at improving the lives of patients with rheumatic diseases by addressing all aspects of health and wellness, including socioeconomic factors and psychiatric and cardiovascular comorbidity. She is particularly interested in uncommon or emerging autoimmune diseases and is working to optimize the use of observational data to inform their management.
Dr. Tisseverasinghe is currently conducting a multidisciplinary project that is evaluating the psychosocial factors that impact lupus disease activity, and this project is supported by an operating grant from Health Sciences Centre Foundation. In addition, she supervises a number of trainee projects, including a study of polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications in patients with lupus.
As a co-investigator and founding member of the Immune Related Adverse Events Associated with the Use of Immune Checkpoint inhibitors: The Canadian Experience (CanRIO) research group, as well as a co-investigator and member of the Canadian Inflammatory Myopathy Study (CIMS) and physician member and contributor of the Canadian Network for Improved Outcomes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (CaNIOS), Dr. Tisseverasinghe is at the forefront of research in the field of rheumatic disease. She is also a contributor to the Canadian Early Arthritis Cohort (CATCH) and the Manitoba Early Arthritis Cohort.
With her extensive knowledge, dedication, and passion for her field, Dr. Tisseverasinghe is making significant contributions to the understanding and treatment of rheumatic diseases. Her work is not only improving the lives of patients, but also providing valuable insights for other researchers in the field.
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Keywords
Autoimmune diseases
Cancer immunotherapy
Clinical epidemiology
Inflammatory myositis
Lupus
Polypharmacy
Psychosocial determinants of health
Rheumatology
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
Therapeutic management
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Research groups
Co-investigator and founding member, Immune Related Adverse Events Associated with the Use of Immune Checkpoint inhibitors: The Canadian Experience (CanRIO)
Co-investigator and member, Canadian Inflammatory Myopathy Study (CIMS)
Physician member and contributor, Canadian Network for Improved Outcomes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (CaNIOS)
Contributor, Canadian Early Arthritis Cohort (CATCH) and the Manitoba Early Arthritis Cohort
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Research interests
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Idiopathic inflammatory myositis
Immune-related adverse event (IRAE) associated with cancer immunotherapy
Polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medication use
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Research themes
Clinical epidemiology
Psychosocial, lifestyle, and environmental determinants of rheumatic diseases
Rare and/or emerging autoimmune rheumatic diseases
Biography
Dr. Annaliese Tisseverasinghe is an assistant professor in the department of internal medicine at the Max Rady College of Medicine. She obtained her medical degree from Queen’s University and completed an internal medicine residency at McGill University. She then went on to complete a rheumatology fellowship and a master of science in clinical epidemiology at the University of Toronto.
Dr. Tisseverasinghe’s research interests include clinical epidemiology, psychosocial, lifestyle, and environmental determinants of rheumatic diseases, and rare and/or emerging autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Dr. Tisseverasinghe is also dedicated to patient care, devoting the majority of her time to rheumatology clinics, with a special interest in lupus, myositis, and autoimmune disease related to cancer immunotherapy. She is also an important figure in medical education, participating in the teaching, supervision and mentorship of rheumatology residents and contributing to undergraduate medical education.
Dr. Tisseverasinghe has received numerous awards and accolades throughout her career, including the Health Sciences Centre Foundation General Operating Grant (2018), the Future Leaders in Rheumatology Training Program from the Canadian Rheumatology Association (2016), and several Medical School Honours and scholarships from institutions such as Queen’s University, the University of Toronto, and the Canadian Rheumatology Association.
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Education
Doctor of Medicine (MD), Queens University (2006)
Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in Human Biology Specialist, Minor in Mathematics (graduated with high distinction), University of Toronto (2002)
Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada (FRCPC) in Internal Medicine Residency, McGill University (2010)
Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada (FRCPC) in Rheumatology Residency, University of Toronto (2013)
Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME), University of Toronto (2016)
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Awards
Ontario Graduate Scholarships, University of Toronto (2014, 2013)
School of Graduate Studies Conference Grant, University of Toronto (2014)
Poster Award, National Scleroderma Conference (2015)
Future Leaders in Rheumatology Training Program, Canadian Rheumatology Association (2016)
Health Sciences Centre Foundation General Operating Grant (2018)
Medical School Honours, Queen’s University (2002)
Adiel Steacy Memorial Scholarship, Queen’s University (2005)
Canadian Rheumatology Association-Merck Studentship (2004)
Human Biology Specialist Silver Medal, University of Toronto (2002)
Molecular Genetics & Biology Studentships, University of Toronto (2002, 2001)
Dean’s Honour List, University of Toronto (1999)
Entrance Scholarship for the Human Biology Program, University of Toronto (1998)
University of Toronto Book Award (1998)
Eli Lilly Biochemistry Scholarship (1998)
Ontario Lieutenant Governor’s Silver Medal for Academic Excellence (1997)
Contact us
Internal Medicine
Room GC430, Health Sciences Centre
820 Sherbrook Street
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB R3A 1R9 Canada
204-787-7772
204-787-4826