The Centre for Brain and Mind (CBM-NIMHANS) focuses on supporting research on five mental disorders — schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, addiction, obsessive-compulsive disorder & dementia. The centre employs several tools & techniques to understand the complexities of brain & mind conditions. This is a collaborative effort of the National Institute for Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) & the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), supported by Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies. Welcome Updates Research Events Jobs Rohini Nilekani Centre for Brain and Mind About Us The Centre for Brain and Mind is a collaborative, premier research centre focused on supporting research on five mental disorders — schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, addiction, obsessive-compulsive disorder and dementia. With a partnership between the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) and the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), the centre employs several tools & techniques to understand the complexities of brain and mind conditions. Learn More Introduction New at CBM-NIMHANS New publication! Genetics and epigenetics in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2 (TM6SF2) in alcohol induced liver cirrhosis New publication! Including lived experience voices in science communication to combat mental illness stigma: insights from India The Brain and Mind Dispatch - Issue 1 out now! New publication! Expression patterns of risk genes associated with three evolutionarily relevant syndromes in rhesus macaque and human brains CALM-Brain was launched on March 25th 2026 To learn more about the launch, visit our News section. Check out the database here: http://calm-brain.ncbs.res.in/ How I Got Here | The Dichotomy of Science: “Mind the Gap” Science is often described as flowing from discovery to clinic. Biju Viswanath’s current ran the other way. Dr Reeteka Sud awarded the PGRN–Myriad Research Grant 2025! Clozapine is a therapeutically superior antipsychotic for treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS). This project is designed to investigate the utility of patients’ genomic variants, in combination with their clinical and cellular data, to identify the basis of clozapine response in TRS. Career Development Fellowship Awardee - Dr Kalyani B Karunakaran Congratulations to Dr Kalyani B Karunakaran for being awarded the Career Development Fellowship at CBM-NIMHANS! Dr Karunakaran's work focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying cross-disorder relationships & psychiatric drugs with cross-disorder effects. Join us at Manotsava 2025! Manotsava, India's largest mental health festival, returns to Bengaluru on November 8-9, 2025 at the Lalit Ashok! Get involved in research! We're bringing together scientists, clinicians, members of the public, individuals with lived experiences and their caregivers to talk about our research in psychiatric and neurological illnesses. A Cerebellar Paradox Offers Clues in SCA12 Research Our new paper unveils a fascinating paradox: the brain region most vulnerable in SCA12 appears surprisingly resilient. New publication! CAG Repeat Instability and Region-Specific Gene Expression Changes in the SCA12 Brain Welcome to our incoming batch of Ph.D. students! (L-R) Manasadeepika, Shama, Chandrakanta, Blossom, Joyce, Lakshmi, Shweta Our e-book is out now! "MIND: The Gap" blends research, personal stories, and insights from our events to explore mental health holistically. Through the Looking Glass Art Exhibition Visit our art exhibition, running at the NIMHANS Heritage Museum from Oct-Nov 2024 in celebration of World Mental Health Day! Welcome to our incoming batch of Ph.D. students! (L-R) Deepankan, Shrinkhala, Pannaga (Not pictured) Rashmi, Blossom Coffee, Cinema and Community: Mental Health Redefined | July 15 - 21, 2024 From book talks to film discussions, and art exhibitions to storytelling workshops - let's talk about mental health, Bengaluru! New publication alert! Exploring the genetics of lithium response in bipolar disorders Dr Suhas G awarded 2024 Society of Biological Psychiatry Travel Fellowship Award Dr Bhagyalakshmi S awarded the 2024 WFSBP Young Investigator Award New publication alert! Altered neuroepithelial morphogenesis and migration defects in iPSC-derived cerebral organoids and 2D neural stem cells in familial bipolar disorder Excited volunteers trying out the EEG caps at National Science Day celebrations Welcome to our incoming batch of Ph.D. students! (L-R) Akshayaa, Mythri, Lakshana, Shreevidya We were at the India Science Festival 2024 at IISER Pune! Srividya and Romita's farewell lunch - good luck & we'll miss you! Our Research Groups Clinical Group Endophenotype Group Genetics & Stem Cell Group Patients undergo extensive clinical investigations, including neuroimaging and neuropsychological assessments at regular intervals as part of a longitudinal study Learn More Advances in stem cell technology allow us to investigate specific molecular mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric disorders and offer insights into genetic variations and their effects on neuronal functioning in neural cell models. Learn More Endophenotypic clues derived from various assessments enhance the reliability of research on brain function by offering insights into genetic factors of a psychiatric disorder Learn More Do you want to participate in our research studies? Click here to learn more Get involved in research! We're bringing together scientists, clinicians, members of the public, individuals with lived experiences and their caregivers to talk about our research in psychiatric and neurological illnesses. Sign up if you're interested in participating. Learn more about what PPIE is here Read more Upcoming Events Last date to submit entries is August 20! Colours of Resilience: Art for Suicide Prevention / RSVP Last date to submit entries is August 20! NIMHANS Heritage Museum, WHQW+W2F, Hosur Rd, inside NIMHANS Bengaluru, Hombegowda Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560029, India Submit your artwork for the new exhibition! Opportunities There are no open positions at this time. Contact

About Us Through deep interrogation of brain networks via brain imaging and clinical electrophysiology as well as sub-cellular networks using molecular and cellular analysis, we aim to move towards a better mechanistic understanding of these disorders. These findings should lead to better diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for patients with psychiatric disorders as well as fundamental new insights into the function of the human brain. Changes in the structure and function of the brain that result in mental illness are poorly understood. Neither do we know why some individuals are more prone to developing mental illness than others. Studying these underlying changes in the brain will likely lead to better methods to diagnose and treat mental illness. Our Objecti ves Investigate Psychiatric Disorders & Establish Databases Establish and investigate a large cohort of families with severe psychiatric illnesses & healthy controls Establish an informative, digital database of research outcomes alongside a repository of biological samples Research Focus Understand the causes, connections and courses of severe psychiatric illnesses Explore potential interventions and treatments Advanced Techniques Employ advanced techniques in imaging, genetics, and stem cell biology towards understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind these disorders Open Source and Collaboration Commit to openness and collaboration by making the database and repository open-source Emphasise public engagement and community outreach Nodal Centres Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) is a world-renowned, multi-disciplinary centre for patient care, academics and cutting-edge research in the field of mental health and neuroscience. With its history dating back to 1847, the Central Government recognized its eminent academic position, growth and contributions, and declared it a ‘Deemed University’ in 1994. In 2012, NIMHANS was conferred the status of an ‘Institute of National Importance’. National Centre for Biological Sciences The National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), located in Bangalore, is part of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. Established in 1992, It is a premier research institute with research interests of faculty members lying in the frontier areas of biology, and the science at NCBS (a part of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research) uses experimental and computational approaches in the study of molecules, cells and organisms. Funding Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies , led by Rohini Nilekani, is a catalyst for positive social change in India. With a focus on education, water conservation, healthcare, and social justice, the foundation collaborates with diverse stakeholders to implement innovative solutions. Prioritising community empowerment and amplifying marginalised voices, it strategically invests for lasting impact. Board of Advisors Prof Mriganka Sur Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts, USA Prof Matcheri Keshavan Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts, USA Prof Mani Ramaswami Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland Prof PSVN Sharma Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India

Participate in Our Research Be a part of our groundbreaking research initiatives by volunteering! You can explore the dedicated pages for each research group to learn more about the innovative studies our scientists are conducting. Our research delves into understanding the complexities behind severe psychiatric illnesses. Our studies may involve - non-invasive methods like EEG recordings, where sensors are placed on the scalp to capture brainwave activity MRI brain scans simple measurements of button-press responses or eye movements blood sample which will be used for genetic and stem cell studies For more information, please read the “Information & Consent Forms” (links to the PDF documents in various languages are given below) If you are eager to participate as a research volunteer, you can register by filling out the form below . Once registered, we will reach out to you when a suitable study becomes available. Your involvement plays a crucial role in advancing our understanding of the human brain, and we welcome you to be a part of our exciting journey in pushing the boundaries of scientific exploration. Information and Consent Forms (PDF) Control (Unaffected Persons) Patient Relatives English Kannada Hindi Tamil Telugu Malayalam English Kannada Hindi Tamil Telugu Malayalam English Kannada Hindi Tamil Telugu Malayalam