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

Work With Us Careers There are no open positions at this time. Internships There are no internship positions currently available.

Genetics and Stem Cell Group Endophenotype Group Clinical Group Psychiatric disorders commonly emerge in young adulthood and significantly impact career choices and lifespan. Early onset of symptoms, usually before age 24, underscores the need for comprehensive support and intervention. The absence of a clear link between genes and observable traits makes treatment plans more complex. The neuropsychiatric disorders we study often have origins in early development, necessitating a shift towards understanding developmental trajectories. How We Work Together Dr Y C Janardhan Reddy Lead Investigator, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Cohort Dr. Vivek Benegal Lead Investigator, Addiction Cohort Dr Biju Viswanath Lead Investigator, Bipolar Disorder Cohort Dr. PT Sivakumar Co-Investigator, Dementia Cohort Dr. Vijay Kumar K.G. Co-Investigator, Schizophrenia Cohort Dr Jayant Mahadevan Co-Investigator, Addiction Cohort Dr. Preethi V. Reddy Co-Investigator, Bipolar Disorder Cohort Dr. Lekhansh Shukla Co-Investigator, Addiction Cohort Dr. Srinivas Balachander Co-Investigator, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Cohort Dr Suhas Satish Co-Investigator, Schizophrenia Cohort Dr. Vijaykumar S Harbishettar Co-Investigator, Dementia Cohort Affiliated Labs & Centres Department of Psychiatry, NIMHANS Schizophrenia & Metabolic Clinic Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Clinic Centre for Addiction Medicine (CAM) Geriatric Clinic Featured Publications Nayok, S.B. et al. (2025) “Gaze fixation stability is a transdiagnostic marker of major psychiatric disorders: A high-density family-based study.” medRxiv, p. 2025.06.23.25330103. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.06.23.25330103 . Durbagula, S. et al. (2024) “Genetic insights into male autism spectrum disorder in a small cohort of Indian simplex families: findings from whole exome sequencing,” General Psychiatry, 37(6), p. e101606. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1136/gpsych-2024-101606 . Muthukumaran, M. et al. (2024) “Shared deficits of education, marital and occupational functioning in unaffected siblings of multiple affected families with major psychiatric illness,” Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 101, p. 104216. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2024.104216 . Lakkireddy SP, Balachander S, Dayalamurthy P, et al. Neurocognition and its association with adverse childhood experiences and familial risk of mental illness. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2022;119:110620. doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110620 Vinod, P. et al. (2024) “Does Apolipoprotein E polymorphism play a role in familial Alzheimer’s Dementia,” Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 20(S1), p. e087257. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.087257 .