Charithani Keragala

Dr Charithani (‘Cherry’) Keragala, FRACP, FRCPA is a haematologist, early career clinician–researcher with an expertise in fibrinolysis and also an Adjunct Lecturer in Medicine within the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health. She completed her PhD at the Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Monash University in 2023 in the area of fibrinolysis, particularly the interaction between the plasminogen activation system and innate immunity.

Dr Keragala has significant research productivity and interest with 26 peer-reviewed publications and an H-index of 12. Her research focuses on the regulation of fibrinolysis and its role in the innate immune response, including the effects of the antifibrinolytic agent, Tranexamic acid. Dr Keragala's contributions have been recognised internationally, including invitations to present at major conferences and delivery of a prestigious State-of-the-Art lecture at the 2024 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) Congress. She is currently ranked second in Australia and 24th globally in fibrinolysis research.

Dr Keragala is the recipient of a 2023 Eberhard F. Mammen Young Investigator Award for her work on vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) and she recently completed a competitive ISTH International Research Training Fellowship in Bern, Switzerland in 2025. Dr Keragala actively disseminates knowledge through international conferences, invited symposia, and workshops, including co-chairing the ISTH supported 2024 “Fibrinolysis Down-Under” scientific workshop, held in Byron Bay and the upcoming THANZ scientific workshop in Auckland, New Zealand in October 2026.

Dr Keragala holds several leadership positions and is currently Vice President of the Thrombosis and Haemostasis Society of Australia and New Zealand (THANZ). She serves on the council of the International Society of Fibrinolysis and Proteolysis and is an associate editor for Thrombosis Journal, the flagship journal of Asia-Pacific Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (APSTH). Internationally, Dr Keragala contributes to the ISTH through multiple roles, including membership on the Media-Based Learning Subcommittee, co-chairing the Scientific and Standardisation Subcommittee on Fibrinolysis, and Vice theme leader for Fibrinogen, FXIII and Fibrinolysis Theme Committee for 2027. She is also actively involved in promoting equity through the RACP Gender Equity in Medicine Reference Group and is a Monash University alumni mentor.