PhD Thesis & Dissertations PhD Thesis Dissertations 2024 Constraint-Based Modeling Of Astrocyte Metabolism In Neuropsychiatric Disorders - Anirudh Chellappa, PhD 2023 Genetic and epigenetic correlates in alcohol-induced liver cirrhosis - Bhagyalakshmi MS, PhD 2022 Characterization and functional validation of Huntington’s disease modifiers influencing disease progression and manifestation - Sowmya DV, PhD 2019 Soundarya, PhD 2018 Influence of Genetic Variation on the Effect of Mood Stabilizer: A Cellular Model System Based Study - Pradip Paul, PhD ​ Lymphoblastoid cell lines as a model system to investigate Alzheimer's Disease - Somdatta Sen, PhD ​ Identification of genes involved in the phenotypes of ApoE variants and Alzheimer's disease - Aparna Ashok, PhD ​ Identification of lithium induced molecular network changes in Huntington’s disease - Dr Nikhil Ratna, PhD Molecular Genetics of Bipolar Disorder: a pharmacogenomics approach - Dr Ravi Kumar Nadella, PhD 2017 A Study of Association of ESR1, HMCN1, METTL13 and 5-HTTLPR Gene Polymorphisms in Women with Postpartum Psychosis and Genetic Correlates of Maternal-Infant Bonding - Dr Harish T, PhD 2015 Molecular genetic analysis of OCD, correlating phenotype and genotype - Reshma Taj, PhD 2013 Study of telomere length in dementias (Clinical Neuroscience) - Dr Lakshminarayanan Kota, PhD 2012 Molecular genetic study of bipolar affective disorder: A linkage based approach - Dr Ram Murthy, PhD 2011 Molecular mechanism of agonist & antagonist with 5-HT receptors, structural consequences of SNPs & evolutionary trace analysis of 5-HT receptors - Dr Padmanaban, PhD 2010 Identification of Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Psychotherapeutic Drug action and Susceptibility to Major Psychoses - Dr Shuba D, PhD 2008 Linkage & association studies to identify susceptibility loci for psychoses - Dr Kiran Kumar, PhD 2006 Molecular genetics study of major psychoses & binding density of 5HT2A receptors in platelets - Dr Odity Mukherjee, PhD 2018 Differential expression of Cathepsin B, Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases 4, Collagen 1A2, B-cell lymphoma 2(bcl-2), Bcl-2 Associated X protein (bax) & α1-Anti Trypsin genes in intracranial aneurysmal wall, Dr Gaurav Tyagi, MCh, Neurosurgery 2017 An Association Study of GRIN2B polymorphism rs 1805502 and Postpartum psychosis, Dr Sara Eraly, MD, Psychiatry ​ GSK 3-Beta Polymorphisms and associated clinical parameters in patients with Bipolar Illness, Dr Bharathram, MD, Psychiatry ​ PparG Polymorphism (PRO12ALA) in Alzheimer's dementia with diabetes: An exploratory study, Dr Abhishek Purty, MD, Psychiatry 2016 Investigating the role of one-carbon metabolism pathway in complicated alcohol withdrawal states, Dr Karishma Kulkarni, MD, Psychiatry ​ Pharmacogenetic association of glutamate transporter gene and SRI response in OCD, Dr Tulika Shukla, MD, Psychiatry ​ Lithium prophylaxis and Neurotrophic /Neuroprotective genes: an association study and gene expression analysis in patients of Bipolar disorder, Dr Ravi Kumar Nadella, MD, Psychiatry 2015 Brain development (white matter) genetic variation and risk for alcohol dependence: imaging genetics study, Dr Ramesh Jagarapu, MD, Psychiatry ​ Effect of genetic variations on temperament and cognitive function, Dr Kiran BR, MD, Psychiatry 2014 Role of Copper in Alzheimer’s Dementia- a Controlled Study, Dr Siddesh Shere, MD, Psychiatry Inbreeding in schizophrenia, Dr Suhas T, MD, Psychiatry 2013 Neurobiology of Auditory Verbal Hallucinations in Schizophrenia - An Integrated fMRI-, EEG- and Genomics-based Approach, Dr Harsha Halahalli, PhD, Psychiatry ​ Association of plasma clusterin protein with Alzheimer’s disease, Dr Kavita Nagpal, MD, Psychiatry Role of Apoe polymorphism in predicting surgical outcome in patients with cervical spondylosis and ossified posterior longitudinal ligament, Dr Tanmoy Maiti, MCh, Neurosurgery ​ Expression of Cathepsin B, K, S, and Elastin in intracranial aneurysmal walls, Dr Arun Babu, MCh, Neurosurgery 2012 Alzheimer’s Dementia: Clinical, Genetic and Diffusion Tensor Imaging study, Dr Bhavani Bagepally, PhD, Clinical Neuroscience 2011 Study of glutamate receptor gene polymorphisms in alcohol dependent patients with simple and severe withdrawal, Dr Ajit Dahale, MD, Psychiatry 2010 Association study of DRD4 polymorphisms and MPA with ADHD in Indian population, Dr C Guruprasad, MD, Psychiatry ​ Association Study of APOE gene polymorphisms & Neurodevelopmental markers in schizophrenia, Dr Abish Anthony, MD, Psychiatry ​ Association Study of APOE gene polymorphisms & Neurodevelopmental markers in bipolar disorder, Dr Avinash Waghmare, MD, Psychiatry 2009 Neuropsychological profile of individuals at–risk for Huntington’s disease, Dr. Saumya Udupa, PhD, Mental health & Social psychology ​ Study of the DAT1 gene polymorphism in severe alcohol withdrawal, Dr Brij Kishore, MD, Psychiatry ApoE4 frequency in late onset depression, Dr Suresh Kumar, MD, Psychiatry 2008 Voxel based Morphometry of brain in SCA 1, 2, & 3, Dr Gaurav Goel, DM, Neuroradiology 2007 Study of 5HTT gene polymorphism in OCD, Dr Prashant Tibrewal, MD, Psychiatry 2004 ApoE polymorphism in dementia samples, Dr. Mansoor Ali Khan, MPhil, Neuroscience 2003 Study of natural history & effect of corticosteroids, Dr Lokesh L, DM, Neurology 2000 Clinical and Genetic characterization of Huntington’s disease in an Indian population, Dr Uday Murgod, DM, Neurology

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Our Research Our research employs state-of-the-art technologies, including: Next-Generation Sequencing : For identifying genetic variations associated with mental health disorders. Linkage and Association Studies : To find correlations between genetic markers and psychiatric conditions. Molecular Psychiatry : Investigating biomarkers and molecular pathways to develop targeted treatments. ​ Neurogenetics : Studying the genetic and epigenetic factors contributing to neurological and psychiatric diseases List of Projects PARAM ABIGNET ENIGMA GenECT cVEDA DBT/Wellcome Trust IOG MQ DST-INSPIRE IBRO/Dana DNA Seq Post-mortem Brains Epigenetics SKAN PARAM The PARAM (Pathways to Resilience and Mental Health) project aims to understand how genetic and environmental factors influence brain development and mental health. Researchers will track brain development from the second trimester of pregnancy (-6 months) to 30 years of age, mapping the timeline for psychological and emotional abilities. With a sample size of over 10,000 participants, the study seeks to identify deviations in brain development that may increase vulnerability to brain disorders. Principal Investigator: Dr. Vivek Benegal Investigator(s): Dr.Eesha Sharma, Dr Bharath Holla, Dr Meera Purushottam, Dr.Meera S S, Dr.Jayant Mahadevan, Dr.Kuppan Gokula Krishnan, Dr Srinivas Bharath Supported By: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) ABIGNET The Asian Bipolar Genetics Network (A-BIG-NET) is a study to understand the genetics of bipolar disorder in Asian populations. The project is recruiting participants from South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, India, and Pakistan, with the goal of analyzing DNA from 27,500 individuals with Bipolar Disorder Type 1 (BP-I) and 16,000 without it. Utilizing data from 15,000 cases and 14,000 controls, this research aims to enhance the understanding of bipolar disorder and other mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, ultimately contributing to global mental health research and promoting healthcare equity. Principal Investigator: Dr Biju Viswanath (Indian cohort) Supported By: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) of the National Institute of Health (NIH), USA Collaborators: Broad Institute, National Taiwan University, Virginia Commonwealth University and Johns Hopkins University ENIGMA The 'India ENIGMA Initiative for Global Aging and Mental Health' at NIMHANS, Bengaluru, with USC, aims to study brain aging biomarkers and dementia risk factors. It assesses healthy elders, Alzheimer’s patients, and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) cases for psychosocial factors and biomarkers like genetics and brain imaging over two years. Using 'brain age' from MRI scans, it examines accelerated brain aging in dementia. The study seeks insights for preventive and treatment strategies for dementia in India Principal Investigator: Dr. Vivek Benegal Investigator(s): Dr John P John, Dr Venkatasubramanian Ganesan, Dr P. T. Sivakumar Dr. Y. C. Janardhan Reddy, Dr. Sanjeev Jain, Dr. Mathew Varghese, Dr. Vivek Benegal, Dr. Kandavel Thennarasu, Dr. Jitender Saini, Dr. Anish V. Cherian, Dr. Meera Purushottam, Dr. Preeti Sinha, Dr Biju Viswanath, Dr. Subashchandrabose Chinnathambi, Dr. Ravikesh Tripathi, Dr. Gokula Krishnan, Dr Reeteka Sud Supported By: National Institute of Aging (NIA), USA of the National Institute of Health (NIH), USA Collaborators: University of South California (USC), USA GenECT This study aims to investigate severe mood disorders and their response to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) by collecting genetic material from individuals undergoing ECT treatment. Collaborating with the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC), the research will identify genetic factors associated with severe mood disorders and predict patient response to ECT. The goal is to understand the unique genetic makeup of these disorders and develop more effective treatment strategies. Conducted at Johns Hopkins ECT centers in collaboration with PGC worldwide, the study leverages clinical data to minimize patient and provider burden. Principal Investigator: Dr Biju Viswanath Investigator(s): Dr. Sanjeev Jain, Dr. Jagadisha Thirthalli Dr. Naren P Rao, Dr. Meera Purushottam, Dr. Reeteka Sud Supported By: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) of the National Institute of Health (NIH), USA cVEDA The Consortium on Vulnerability to Externalizing Disorders and Addictions (c-VEDA) project aims to understand how environmental and genetic factors in developed and developing countries influence brain function and behavior related to substance misuse and externalizing disorders. Through collaboration with Indian partners, the project will compare data from European and UK studies with Indian cohorts to identify risk factors and neurobehavioral trajectories for mental health research.The studies include mental health checks and genetic testing and also looks at brain scans and genes, aiming to understand how culture influences behavior and brain development. Principal Investigator: Dr Vivek Benegal, Dr Eesha Sharma, Dr Bharath Holla, Dr Meera Purushottam Supported By: Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), Newton Grant from the Medical Research Council (MRC), United Kingdom Collaborators: Professor Gunter Schumann, King’s College London, UK SKAN: Effect of antipsychotics on the gut microbiome This project aims to assess any changes in the microbiome starting from the hospital admission till acute antipsychotic therapy administered as part of standard medical procedure. This will be useful to tackle bothersome side-effects of antipsychotics through simple interventions. Principal Investigator: Dr Sanjeev Jain, Dr Meera Purushottam Investigators: Prof YC Janardhan Reddy, Prof Mathew Varghese, Dr Biju Viswanath, Dr Suvarna Alladi, Prof PT Sivakumar, Prof Preeti Sinha, Dr Faheem Arshad SKAN: Genetics of bipolar disorder and related illnesses: a study of intermediate alleles in candidate genes with repeat expansion loci This study aims to assess the repeat size of simple repeat sequences at SCA1, 2, and 3, HTT, DRPLA, and C9ORF loci in severe mental illness (bipolar disorder) and compare them with controls. The need for this study arises from the possibility that severe mental illnesses like bipolar disorder may be part of an underlying neurodegenerative syndrome. By examining the frequency of intermediate and higher normal alleles at these loci, the study will provide insights into their prevalence and association with neuropsychiatric illness in our population. Principal Investigator: Dr Meera Purushottam Investigators: Dr Sanjeev Jain, Dr Biju Viswanath, Dr Ajit Dahale Deciphering the molecular mechanisms of lithium response in patients with bipolar disorder This study aims to investigate the unique aspects of bipolar disorder in Indian patients, focusing on symptoms and response to lithium treatment. Research correlations between mania prevalence, lithium response, and side effects like hypothyroidism and kidney disease. They also explore genetic risk assessment to predict lithium response and study brain development processes in non-responders to lithium treatment. Principal Investigator: Dr. Biju Viswanath Co-Principal Investigator: Dr. Venkatasubramanian Ganesan Supported By: DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance An informal, safe and supportive outreach approach to bridge the Mental Health Gap in India This project aims to bridge gaps by fostering safe, informal outreach about mental illnesses. The objective is to facilitate interactions among scientists, patients, caregivers, and clinicians through different activities. These include a mental health interview series (available digitally), outreach and public engagement events, competition and e-books & resources on mental health disorders. Principal Investigator: Dr Reeteka Sud, Dr Biju Viswanath Supported by: IndiaBioscience Outreach Grant Collaborators: Project Encephalon, Sangath India, BipolarIndia Genetic and environmental determinants of treatment emergent metabolic abnormalities in schizophrenia This study aims to explore how genetic and environmental factors affect metabolic side effects in schizophrenia patients treated with antipsychotics (risperidone or olanzapine). It looks at whether genetic risk scores for metabolic conditions can predict these side effects and how factors like age, sex, illness severity, medication, and lifestyle influence this relationship. The study also examines differences in these effects among different ancestries, especially in South Asian populations using the CLOZUK sample. Principal Investigator: Dr Suhas Ganesh Investigator(s): Dr Jagadisha Thirthalli, Dr Biju Viswanath, Dr Venkatsubramanian G, Dr Meera Purushottam Supported By: MQ - Transforming Mental Health, UK Collaborators: Dr Nishant Goyal (Central Institute of Psychiatry, India), Dr Basudeb Das (Central Institute of Psychiatry, India), Dr Naomi Wray (University of Queensland, Australia), Dr Patrick Sullivan (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, US), Dr James Walters (Cardiff University, UK) Investigating the immune dynamics of autism spectrum disorders The proposed project aims to enable the initiation of molecular research in neuro-immuno-genetics. The goal is to help identify molecular markers of inflammation in patients with autism spectrum disorders, which may lead to a prospective diagnostic tool Principal Investigator: Dr Ashitha S N M Supported by: DST-INSPIRE Faculty Grant Scheme Coffee, Cinema and Community: Redefining Mental Health A project to host city-wide science cafe events and movie screenings, and provide translated educational resources (in Hindi and Kannada) discussing mental health across Bangalore, India. Principal Investigator: Dr Reeteka Sud Co-Investigator(s): Dr Biju Viswanath, Anushka Banerjee, Kadambari Patil Supported by: IBRO/Dana Foundation Brain Awareness Week Grant Collaborators: Dr KS Meena Iyer (Mental Health Education Department, NIMHANS), Dr Ranjana Sarma (Centre for Brain and Mind - NCBS Sequencing of archived DNA: A Neurodegenerative study The project will involve performing whole exome sequencing of DNA samples of patients diagnosed with cerebellar ataxias (ADCAs/SCAs), neurodegenerative diseases, including early onset Parkinson's disease (PD), and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in the Indian population. The study aims to identify predictive genetic and molecular markers for early detection of these neurodegenerative disorders, which can help improve diagnostics and identify targets for interventions and management. Principal Investigator: Dr Meera Purushottam Co-Principal Investigators: Dr Ramesh Hariharan, Dr Pramod Kumar Pal, Dr Biju Viswanath Co-Investigators: Dr Ravi Yadav, Dr Vikram Holla, Dr Nitish Kamble Post-mortem Brain Research Research focuses on genomics, transcriptomics, trinucleotide repeat analyses, and epigenetic investigations across brain regions. Epigenetic Research ​ DNA methylation levels in various psychiatric disorders( addiction, psychosis) and effect of stress and its effects are particular areas of interest. Differential expression of microRNAs upon drug exposure for example in vitro Lithium exposure to Bipolar Disorder patients derived Lymphoblastoid Cell lines (LCLs) are being investigated. Up