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Research Technician sudipta.nimhans@gmail.com , m.sudiptachoudhury@gmail.com Twitter | LinkedIn Back Back to People Page Back Lab Team Sudipta Choudhury Research Technician CBM Sudipta is a research technician at the Centre for Brain and Mind with a Master’s degree in Molecular Biology. She has experience in neuroscience and molecular research, with a keen interest in understanding neurodegenerative diseases. Outside the lab, Sudipta finds joy in painting to relieve stress, dancing in her break time, hiking, and discovering cute new places during her travels. She is also an avid reader across genres and enjoys nurturing plants, combining her love for nature and creativity in everyday life.

Project Associate manasadeepika97@gmail.com Back Back to People Page Back Lab Team, Doctoral Candidate Manasadeepika Project Associate CBM I am a project associate at CBM NIMHANS, and am passionate about neuroscience research. I'm currently trying to understand how bionergetics contributes to the machanism of action of lithium in bipolar disorder. Beyond the lab, I find joy in capturing moments through portraits and paintings, letting creativity flow onto canvas. Dancing is my escape, where movement becomes an expression of inner rhythms.

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!

Back Back to People Page Back Lab Team Rishitha Bysani MGL

Junior Research Fellow (Neuroimaging for ANC) fernandesblossom98@gmail.com LinkedIn Back Back to People Page Back MRI/EEG Team, Doctoral Candidate Blossom Fernandes Junior Research Fellow (Neuroimaging for ANC) CBM Blossom is a JRF for Neuroimaging ANC at the Centre for Brain and Mind. With a Masters degree in Medical Imaging Technology with experience in clinical MRI and other modalities in imaging. She enjoys watching movies and TV series, exploring new places and playing badminton

Project Associate lakshmianand22@gmail.com LinkedIn Back Back to People Page Back Lab Team, Doctoral Candidate Lakshmi Anand Project Associate CBM Lakshmi completed her integrated Master's in Biological Sciences from Bangalore University and joined CBM as a Project Associate in 2024. She is interested in understanding cellular intricacies of the brain. Her conversational kick starters are food spots, sitcoms and travel. Beyond the lab bench, Lakshmi is a Bharatanatyam dancer and skater.

Junior Research Fellow (Neuroimaging - ADBS Data Centre) deepankan.chy34@gmail.com LinkedIn Back Back to People Page Back Doctoral Candidate, Data Centre Team Deepankan Chakarborty Junior Research Fellow (Neuroimaging - ADBS Data Centre) CBM Deepankan, a junior research fellow at the Center for Brain and Mind, holds a master's degree in Cognitive Neuroscience. He possesses expertise in crafting a portable AI-driven device for detecting epileptiform discharges. With four years of experience acquiring and analyzing EEG data, he has transitioned his focus to exploring FMRI. Beyond his professional pursuits, Deepankan enjoys exploring the realms of arts, literature, poetry and anime.

Project Associate nishalijesh@gmail.com Back Back to People Page Back Clinical Team Nisha A S Project Associate CBM, A-BIG-NET Nisha works for the Center for Brain and Mind department as a project associate for the GenECT project. She holds a Masters degree in counseling, family therapy, and social work. She also has prior experience working in public outreach, counseling, and community training. In her free time, she likes to read fiction and non-fiction books, travel, and discover new places.

Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry vkkg24@gmail.com Google Scholar Back Back to People Page Back Co-Investigator Team Dr Vijay Kumar K G Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry

Facilities Clinical and Endophenotype Stem Cell Laboratory Molecular Genetics Laboratory Bioinformatics Stem Cell Laboratory Cell culture facility (80 m²) 1 A dedicated, sterile, air-flow controlled workspace for culture of primary and stem cells Biosafety Cabinets 4 Provide a sterile, air-flow controlled work environment for cell culture CO₂ Incubators 6 Provide a controlled environment to grow cells Fluorescence Microscopes 2 Used to visualise fluorescently labelled cells Phase-contrast Microscopes 2 Used to image live, unstained cells Neon Electroporator 1 Allows gene delivery via electroporation Amaxa Nucleofector 1 High-efficiency nucleic acid transfection Heated Incubators 3 Temperature-controlled storage/growth LN₂ Cryotanks 5 Long-term cryogenic cell storage Ultra-low Freezers (−80°C) 6 Biobanking at ultra-low temperatures −30°C Freezers 4 Medium-term sample storage Refrigerators 2 Sample and reagent storage High-content Imaging System 1 Automated, high-throughput cell imaging Autoclave 1 Equipment & media sterilization Spectrophotometer 1 Sample absorbance/concentration measurement Clinical and Endophenotype Facilities Eye Tracking Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) Magnetic resonance imaging Philips Ingenia 3.0T CX MRI Electroencephalography

Project Associate varshalathav3@gmail.com Back Back to People Page Back Lab Team, Doctoral Candidate Varsha Vishnu Project Associate CBM, A-BIG-NET

Research Technician Back Back to People Page Back Lab Team Devika P P Research Technician CBM