Patient and Public Involvement & Engagement At the Centre for Brain and Mind, NIMHANS (CBM-NIMHANS), Public and Patient Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) shapes how we think about research, communication, and public dialogue on mental illnesses. Our work is informed by the understanding that knowledge in this field is produced not only through laboratories, clinics, and publications, but also through lived experience, community interaction, and everyday encounters with care and stigma. What is PPIE? Patient and public involvement and engagement is a research practice where people with lived experience (PwLE) of health conditions (patients), their caregivers, members of the public and communities work together with scientists at every stage of research. Rather than research being done about people, it is done with and for them. Within the Indian context of mental illness - where silence, hierarchy, and unequal access continue to influence who is heard - PPIE offers ways to engage more inclusively. Who can be involved? You don’t need any research background to get involved, and it’s not just for people with a mental health condition. Caregivers, family members, and others in the community all have valuable perspectives to share. Persons with lived experience (PwLE) of a mental illness Family members of PwLE Caregivers of PwLE People from communities & organisations that support PwLE Who does PPIE benefit & how? Involving patients and the public in research has multiple benefits for both researchers and those involved - Better quality of research More relevant research goals Brings real-world perspective to theoretical problems Increases accessibility to researchers and their work Provides accountability to the public If you’re a member of the public interested in PPIE If you are a patient, caregiver, or member of the public who is interested in joining the CBM-NIMHANS PPIE community, fill out our registration form here . If you’re a researcher interested in PPIE To learn more about our PPIE work or to explore potential collaborations, please email us at cbm.nimhans@gmail.com Resources UK Standards for Public Involvement Read More Involving People Read More Patient & Public Involvement Resources - PenARC Read More PPIE Resources for Researchers - NIHR Newcastle Read More Learning for Involvement - NIHR Read More To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

Welcome! Hello there 😊 You are now part of the MGL/ADBS/CBM group , and we are really glad to have you here! We hope your time here will be meaningful, fruitful, and filled with valuable learning experiences. We hope you will fully immerse yourself in this environment, which exists at the crossroads of psychiatry, psychology, genetics, epigenetics, stem cell research, and systems biology. Each of us, in different ways, is both a mentor and a mentee. We are equally responsible for shaping the collective dynamics of the group, one that is positive, engaging, challenging, rewarding, and free of hostility. The purpose of this document is to share our vision for mentor-mentee relationships within the MGL/ADBS/CBM group. What lies at the core of this vision? Three tenets: commitment to (I) professionalism and transparency, (II) mutual care, support, and respect, and (III) clear and polite communication of mutual expectations. Together, these will help us stay focused on what we came together to do: Science. Planning it well, doing it carefully, and sharing it openly. As the research group in charge, I (Biju) promise that I will try my best to: Support and care for your well-being as a person and as a scientist, and engage with you directly and kindly. Give you time for work discussions on a regular basis, and as needed. Support your career development through networking, recommendation letters, and conference participation. As both mentors and mentees, valued members of this community, I expect and encourage you to: Proactively seek time with me and others for work discussions. Respect your own time and that of others; communicate timelines clearly for work plans and be on time for meetings. Follow the due procedure for taking leave. Participate actively in lab life. Present your work, engage in discussions, join lab cleaning sessions, and social events, take part in outreach activities when you can, and help host visiting speakers. Address your colleagues (including PIs) by their first names, without salutations. This will help us foster a harmonious, non-hierarchical environment. Together, we can co-create a culture of small kindnesses – greet colleagues, offer help when you can, welcome newcomers, and celebrate each other’s wins, be it big or small. We are a large group balancing shared and individual priorities. So, naturally, conflicts will arise. When they do, or when you find yourself privy to a conflict involving others, I encourage you to resist the tendency to victimise, persecute, or rescue the parties involved. Instead, in a civil manner, invert this triad: create solutions, challenge, or coach them towards harmony. Encourage the parties involved to speak directly with each other. And yes, talk to me. Let me help you :) Mentees Expectations: Reflect on the kind(s) of mentorship that helps you grow. Every mentor-mentee relationship is different, and it’s okay to explore what works for you. If an approach is not helpful, share this openly, kindly, and clearly with your mentor. Talk to me when you want help with this. You may have one/more seniors working on the same/similar project as you, who are not your official guides. When they assign you any work, feel free to have a conversation about your work priorities and the time commitment expected from you. If you do not have the time required, know that you can voice the same clearly to them. Keep me in the loop through email. Seek help any time: “Help will always be given at MGL/ADBS/CBM, to those who ask for it”. Discuss with your mentors and me the kind of support you need for your success. Feedback is an ongoing part of learning, and we rely on your input. You’re encouraged to share what’s working and what could improve – both ways – so that we can grow together. Plans will evolve and change as science develops. This can be unsettling. When it does, talk to other mentors and me. We will go through it together :) Take ownership of your learning and research. Be curious, ask questions, and explore – that initiative can be the most stimulating part of your development as a scientist. Be open to being questioned about your work by juniors and seniors. It's thought-provoking. Helps you look at your work dispassionately and self-critically. It is a very important part of your learning. Ultimately, you may get the same comment from an external reviewer! Mentors Expectations: Proactively build your independent line of research and prioritise your time around that. Let me help you with it :) Share your knowledge, experience and expertise openly: none of us reached here without that little helping hand! Reflect on your experience as a mentee: what worked, what didn’t, and how that shaped your current mentoring approach. Remember how you felt then, not just what you know now. Let that decide your actions. Good mentors are built through training, reflection, patience, empathy, and creating a sense of community. There will be many types of mentorship styles. A suggestion, nevertheless: start meetings with your mentees by asking how they are doing and what their biggest challenges were that week. Ask for honest feedback from your mentees: about their lab experience and their perception of you as their mentor. It may not come naturally for your mentees to tell you directly what they think, especially if it is about you. Hear them out, sleep on it. When you need the help of a junior person: ask about availability before assigning any work. Clarify time commitments – how much of their time do you need, for how long (an estimate will do). Email their direct guide, copying me, and defining the work you need help with. Some additional points about general lab ethics for all You spend a lot of time in the lab, make it your home – take responsibilities, take ownership. Take care of lab properties – work desks, instruments, equipment, etc. Help out in service and repair activities. Keep the lab tidy – clear up after use, clean up after eating. Be honest. Reporting things as they are is at the core of doing science. No one will judge you for not knowing something. What matters is that you remain curious, transparent, open to new learning and changes, and develop the capacity to take responsibility. The same goes when you make mistakes at work or break something in the lab. Invest time in the success of the lab, as you do in your own research. So, look around, see what needs doing and what others are doing for you, and pitch in. It will always make a difference and will not go unnoticed. Complete your assigned lab work on time. The lab thrives when we pull our weights together. Please inform your mentee/mentor ahead of time when you cannot participate in group lab activities or some planned work. Do send leave mails. You could be juggling many things at the same time. You may have to negotiate clearly and openly with your mentor if there are additional responsibilities you are asked to take, in addition to your current workload. Try to respond to work emails/messages from me or your mentor/mentee within a reasonable time frame (24-48h) to ensure smooth communication. You are free to define your work hours, as long as there is steady progress towards your goals. Being present in the lab helps you learn from (and teach) other people – one of the best parts of doing science. Lock the lab when empty; safety is the utmost priority. Help in building a long-lasting and sustaining lab: ensure resources are used judiciously, and ensure your peers are mindful too. Ensure you are maintaining a well-recorded and legible lab record notebook. It is required to retain and pass on knowledge learnt in the lab - also to trace back when needed. Do not come into the lab when sick. Stay home and safe. Don’t risk getting others sick. Also, help out – take care of the wounded soldier next to you. There are always culturally embedded factors at play; remain open to new learning. Paper submissions Maintain an evolving PowerPoint file for your work. Send a new version to the team each time with additional slides rather than editing old ones; clearly label final figures, include legends, sample IDs, and write key takeaways to avoid confusion over time. Organise your references systematically so they are easy to retrieve when needed. Writing can be fun. It is a process. Allow yourself the time to figure that out; talk to your other mentors and me. Editing may take even longer than writing – get early, timely feedback on figures and results in group meetings and discussions with mentors. It would typically take multiple iterations of writing and editing with your co-authors. I / other mentors will help you. Lead authors (first author - solo or shared) need to develop a timeline early in the process, with your mentor(s) and corresponding author(s) on the paper. Plan backwards! Include time for all co-authors to review the manuscript once a draft is ready from your side. Pass it along to the co-authors and give them a minimum of 3 weeks to provide feedback. Confirm with your co-authors that their names and affiliations are spelt correctly. Plan as per your submission timelines and keep your co-authors informed of these timelines as well. Authorship needs to be discussed with your mentor(s)/corresponding author(s), co-authors. This includes agreement on whose names will be included and in what order. Both are important parameters for everyone’s career development. In some cases, it may be the corresponding authors who have this discussion with the authors, but the first author(s) need to be aware of the process. Remember, the final document has to be shared with all authors and approved by them before journal submission. Conference presentations Discuss the data and experimental plan needed for the poster with your mentor before the submission. Discuss the time commitments of your peers who are co-authors on the poster. Discuss points of authorship with your co-authors. This needs to be done in a timely manner, before an Abstract is sent out of the lab. When you send manuscripts (or abstracts) for review, add a relevant title that can be easily retrieved for future use (e.g., with version number/date, etc.). Remember to share the final copy of the submitted documents and details with all the authors involved. AI use statement I strongly request that all mentors and mentees resist the tendency to outsource reading, writing, and critical thinking skills to AI tools. To enjoy the process of doing science, utilising and challenging one's own cognitive & discretionary skills is crucial. AI is a tool which functions best in tasks where the process is clear from the start to the end. A known pathway of functioning. Like solving math problems and providing information about well-established facts. However, when the facts are obscure and with ambiguous data, AI will struggle in its current and foreseeable state. This is the kind of space where the use of our association cortex is unparalleled, giving us an edge which AI struggles to do. Several components of science remain controlled by variable factors. Examples: what led you to research a specific topic, how external scientists receive your scientific work, etc. But importantly, specific components of this process remain within our control. Examples: planning & executing experiments, analysing data & disseminating results through an original research article, and synthesising decades worth of literature in a review article. If one outsources these to AI tools, you lose the opportunity to develop foundational skills that stay with you, even when you're away from the screen. That being said, we are of the impression that AI does have several straightforward uses from which we could benefit. It can help you organise your time and write administrative emails. It can be used to check grammar and language skills to improve your literary prowess. It's good at writing code for simple, straightforward tasks. We do encourage learning more about how to use AI as a tool, as it is seemingly inevitable and would be a useful skill to possess. If you feel pressed to use AI tools because of a time crunch, difficulty in navigating reading material, work plans, etc., reach out to me & your team of mentors & mentees. Let's find ways to help you out. Acknowledgements This document takes inspiration and borrows text from Aly and Memo lab manuals.

Clinical Group Genetics and Stem Cell Group Endophenotype Group Endophenotypes are measurable and heritable traits or behaviors linked to a disorder, that sit between the genetic factors and the observable symptoms of the condition. Psychiatric disorders are increasingly viewed as neurodevelopmental disorders, which are influenced by genetic, epigenetic & environmental factors. These clues offer insights into genetic underpinnings of these disorders. Utilising endophenotypes derived from various assessments like neuroimaging can enhance the reliability of research on brain function. Dr. John P. John Professor, Department of Psychiatry Dr. Venkatasubramanian Ganesan Professor, Department of Psychiatry Dr. Jitender Saini Professor, Department of Neuro Imaging & Interventional Radiology Dr Bharath Holla Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry Dr. Sreeraj V S Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry Affiliated Labs and Centre ADBS Neuroimaging Centre (ANC) Centre for Brain Mapping (CBM) Translational Psychiatry Lab (TransPsych) Multi-modal Brain Imaging Analysis Lab (MBIAL) Facilities Eye Tracking Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) MRI Scanner Philips Ingenia 3.0T CX MRI EEG Featured Publications Parekh P, Vivek Bhalerao G; ADBS consortium, John JP, Venkatasubramanian G. Sample size requirement for achieving multisite harmonization using structural brain MRI features. Neuroimage. 2022;264:119768. doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119768 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 Bhalerao GV, Parekh P, Saini J, Venkatasubramanian G, John JP; ADBS consortium. Systematic evaluation of the impact of defacing on quality and volumetric assessments on T1-weighted MR-images. J Neuroradiol. 2022;49(3):250-257. doi:10.1016/j.neurad.2021.03.001 Parekh P, Bhalerao GV, Rao R, et al. Protocol for magnetic resonance imaging acquisition, quality assurance, and quality check for the Accelerator program for Discovery in Brain disorders using Stem cells. Int J Methods Psychiatr Res. 2021;30(3):e1871. doi:10.1002/mpr.1871 Holla B, Dayal P, Das A, et al. Transdiagnostic neurocognitive endophenotypes in major psychiatric illness. medRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory). February 2020. doi:10.1101/2020.02.14.20022863

Learn more about upcoming events at the Centre for Brain and Mind - NIMHANS Upcoming Events No events at the moment Past Events The Fault in our Cells ಭಾನು, 26 ಏಪ್ರಿ The Bangalore Local Why do mental illnesses exist and why do they affect some people but not others ? Details Medulina Matu | Prof Raghu Padinjat ಶುಕ್ರ, 06 ಮಾರ್ಚ್ Samagata Foundation Medulina Mathu (“brain talks”) is a new series by the Centre for Brain and Mind, NIMHANS, that brings neuroscience out of the lab and into everyday conversation. Details Brain Bridge: Talks by CBM NIMHANS | Prof Deepak Srivastava ಗುರು, 12 ಫೆಬ್ರ Zoom Webinar Details Sci560: Science in the City ಶನಿ, 16 ನವೆಂ Science Gallery Bengaluru This weekend scholars from NIMHANS will be at the Science Gallery Bengaluru for a series of programmes focused on mental health. Recordings of the events will be available on the Science Gallery Bengaluru website. Details Talk by Prof John Nurnberger | Genetics of Alcohol Use Disorder: Will Polygenic Scores Be Useful? ಗುರು, 14 ನವೆಂ Platinum Jubilee Hall, NIMHANS Join us this Thursday at 5 pm at the Platinum Jubilee Hall, NIMHANS, Bangalore for an interesting talk on the genetics of alcohol use disorder by Prof John Nurnberger, Joyce & Iver Small Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine Details Load More

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

In the News 2026-03-25 Nimhans unveils digital repository for mental health research Researchers and clinicians aim to study neuropsychiatric diseases in the Indian context to understand them for early intervention, progression, and underlying causes. Know more 2026-03-25 India’s first repository of major psychiatric disorders, CALM-Brain, launched in Bengaluru The database, built on Indian patient data, will be made open source, opening it up for clinicians and researchers aiming to study neuropsychiatric disorders Know more 2026-03-25 India's mental health database launched in Bengaluru to decode psychiatric disorders CALM-Brain, a first-of-its-kind, large-scale indigenous mental health research database released Wednesday Know more 2026-01-20 The Dichotomy of Science: “Mind the Gap” | India Alliance DBT Wellcome Science is often described as flowing from discovery to clinic. Biju Viswanath’s current ran the other way. Know more 2025-11-10 Awareness, not algorithms, must guide mental health: Neurologists at Manotsava in Bengaluru Know more 2025-04-05 Stabilizing DNA Repeats: New Study Shows Promising Path To Treat SCA12 The study findings suggest that protecting DNA from mutations in brain cells could offer a viable treatment strategy for SCA12. Know more 2025-04-02 Making research inclusive: Bringing patients and the public into the fold Public and Patient Involvement and Engagement is transforming research around the globe - will India chime in? Know more 2024-10-30 ADHD to anxiety—Bengaluru’s mental health festival destigmatises disorders, diseases The festival, Mannotsava, was co-hosted by Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, and the National Centre for Biological Sciences. Know more 2024-10-10 Understanding Mental Health Across the Lifespan: A Conversation with Dr Biju Viswanath Do long working hours lead to mental illness, and if so, will it be untreatable? These are questions many of us grapple with while navigating workplace challenges. In this interview, Dr Biju Viswanath, a Clinical and Public Health Intermediate Fellow, addresses some related concerns. Know more Read More

Work With Us Careers There are no open positions at this time. Internships If you are interested in completing your thesis or dissertation with us, please reach out directly to the PI you wish to work with. Once they have confirmed your placement, contact us at cbm.nimhans.org to learn about registering with the NIMHANS Training Wing . Drug repurposing pipeline for psychiatric disorders Dr Kalyani Bindu Project Overview: This project aims to develop a systematic strategy to discover and repurpose drugs for psychiatric syndromes, moving beyond conventional approaches by incorporating spatial, functional, and network-level insights derived from transcriptomic and interactomic datasets. Number of Openings : 2 Intern Roles & Responsibilities: Literature review, drug compilation, drug-disease transcriptomic analysis, figure generation, and synthesis of results. Eligibility & Required Skills: Ongoing Bachelor's or Master's degree in any life science discipline Interest or prior experience in pharmacology Openness to systems biology approaches and exploring new bioinformatic tools Basic proficiency in R and Python Good follow-through, communication, and documentation skills Duration: 6 months Tentative Start Date: June 1, 2026 Application Deadline: May 25, 2026 Work Mode: Online, with video calls as required and at least one in-person meeting per month. Additional Requirements from Applicant: Please submit a writing sample — an academic assignment completed as part of any of your degree programs. Apply Now

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Clinical Group Endophenotype Group Genetics and Stem Cell Group Molecular disturbances involving multiple genes contribute to the complexity of psychiatric disorders, requiring a focus on cellular and molecular changes. 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 using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). This offers potential for improved diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. How We Work Together Dr Biju Viswanath Lead Investigator, Bipolar Disorder Cohort Dr. Meera Purushottam Senior Scientific Officer, Molecular Genetics Lab, Department of Psychiatry Dr. Suhas Ganesh Clinician Scientist, MQ: Transforming Mental Health Fellow, Department of Psychiatry Dr. Reeteka Sud Lab Senior Scientist, Department of Psychiatry Facilities ImageXpress Confocal HT.ai High-Content Imaging System Molecular Devices Zeiss Microscope Centrifuge Novo Light Microscope Incubator Incubator Storage 4C Fridge Light Microscope Imaging System Centrifuge ImageXpress Confocal HT.ai High-Content Imaging System Molecular Devices Zeiss Microscope Centrifuge Novo Light Microscope Incubator Incubator Storage 4C Fridge Light Microscope Imaging System Centrifuge ImageXpress Confocal HT.ai High-Content Imaging System Molecular Devices Zeiss Microscope Centrifuge Novo Light Microscope Incubator Incubator Storage 4C Fridge Light Microscope Imaging System Centrifuge ImageXpress Confocal HT.ai High-Content Imaging System Molecular Devices Zeiss Microscope Centrifuge Novo Light Microscope Incubator Incubator Storage 4C Fridge Light Microscope Imaging System Centrifuge Affiliated Labs and Centre Molecular Genetics Laboratory (MGL) Bhalla Lab Padinjat Lab ADBS Data Centre Featured Publications Prasad G, P. et al. (2025b) “Unstable FGF14 GAA repeat expansions in Indian ataxia patients: a broader phenotype and involvement of modifier loci?,” Journal of Human Genetics, pp. 1–7. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s10038-025-01390-6 . Parthaje, S. et al. (2025) “CAG Repeat Instability and Region-Specific Gene Expression Changes in the SCA12 Brain,” The Cerebellum, 24(3), p. 60. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12311-025-01808-z . Karunakaran, K.B., Jain, S., Widera, D. et al. Spatial and functional profiles distinguish target sets of Parkinson’s disease and antipsychotic drugs with different clinical effects. Transl Psychiatry 15, 124 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03351-1 Cabrera-Mendoza, B. et al. (2025) “Equitable Collaboration Between LMIC and HIC Researchers, Part I: A Preliminary Framework for Capacity Building in Psychiatric Genetics Research,” American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics, n/a(n/a), p. e33042. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.b.33042 . Phalnikar, K. et al. (2024) “Altered neuroepithelial morphogenesis and migration defects in iPSC-derived cerebral organoids and 2D neural stem cells in familial bipolar disorder,” Oxford Open Neuroscience, 3, p. kvae007. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/oons/kvae007 . 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 .

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

Research Overview The Rohini Nilekani Centre for Brain and Mind tackles the global challenge of psychiatric disorders with a pioneering study focusing on high-risk families. Clinical investigations, including neuroimaging and neuropsychological assessments, are conducted on these cohorts regularly. Through our collaborations with NCBS, patient blood samples are used to establish disease-specific cellular models using immortalised cell lines and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Clinical Group Endophenotype Group Genetics and Stem Cell Group By analysing these patient-derived cell lines through genetic studies & cell-based assays, alongside large-scale clinical data, our research aims to unravel the complex relationship between cellular phenotypes and psychiatric disorder progression. This interdisciplinary approach promises to advance our understanding and facilitate the development of innovative therapies, ultimately improving mental health outcomes. For Researchers For General Public Clinical Assessments Our clinicians conduct comprehensive evaluations of patients’ behaviours and symptoms. This is followed by a psychiatric screening that assesses family history, charts hereditary traits & measures the severity of the disorder. Neuropsychological tests evaluate cognitive skills in individuals with & without psychiatric disorders, considering their family history Genetic Studies We assess changes in DNA sequence in psychiatric patients, their immediate relatives & in unrelated controls (people without a psychiatric diagnosis). Understanding why & how these changes happen can help scientists understand how genetic risk translates to disease. Multimodal Neuroimaging We use imaging techniques such as eye-movement tracking, functional near-infrared spectroscopy, MRIs and EEGs. These help us evaluate the structural changes in the brain & its activity linked to psychiatric diseases. Bioinformatics Using powerful computers, we study differences in the DNA of individuals with & without psychiatric disorders in different populations. This genetic information helps us find the cause & predict the chances of developing these psychiatric disorders. Stem Cell Research Stem cells, developed from blood cells, are used to investigate differences in brain cells during disease. We study whether these cells function differently than those of non-affected people. Clinical Assessment Our doctors examine you for the presence of any psychiatric disorders & take a blood sample. They make a chart of your family history to understand if any psychiatric disorder runs in your family. They also assess how severe your disorder is & evaluate your cognitive skills. Brain Imaging Our researchers use different methods to peek inside the brain and check for any changes in its structure & function. EEG records the electrical signals from the brain. It helps us find changes in brain activity. We also use other techniques such as eye tracking & near infrared spectroscopy to study different forms of brain activity and function. MRI uses a powerful magnet to take detailed pictures of your brain, and allows doctors to check the structure for any potential abnormalities. Genetic Studies Remember the blood sample we took? We isolate DNA from blood cells & study the genetic sequence. We try to understand whether changes in the DNA are linked to certain psychiatric disorders. We also aim to understand the differences in DNA sequences using mathematical models. This helps us learn if these differences make it more likely for someone to develop psychiatric symptoms. Stem Cell Research We also use blood samples to create stem cells, which are special cells that can grow into many different kinds of cells in the body. We turn them into brain cells to understand how they function in people with & without psychiatric disorders. All of this information together, helps us understand psychiatric disorders better & can lead to development of better treatments!