Publications

Welcome Updates Research Jobs Molecular Genetics Lab About Us The Molecular Genetics Laboratory (MGL) is dedicated to understanding the genetic and molecular basis of neuropsychiatric disorders. Our mission is to advance mental health and neurological care through innovative research, education, and clinical services. Located in Bangalore, India, MGL is part of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), which has been at the forefront of mental health and neuroscience research for decades. Our team comprises esteemed scientists, clinicians, and researchers committed to translating scientific discoveries into clinical applications. We focus on unraveling the complexities of brain function and behavior to improve patient outcomes and contribute to global knowledge in psychiatric genetics. Introduction New at MGL Welcome to our incoming Ph.D. batch of 2024! (L-R) Deepankan, Shrinkhala, Pannaga (Not pictured) Rashmi Celebrating 25 years of MGL and Dr Meera! 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 MS 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 Welcome to our incoming Ph.D. batch of 2023! (L-R) Akshaya, Mythri, Lakshana, Srividya Our Research At MGL, our research spans a wide range of areas, focusing on the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, dementia, OCD, alcoholism, spino-cerebellar ataxia and muscular dystrophy. Our multidisciplinary approach combines clinical insights with advanced genetic methods, supported by national and international funding agencies. We collaborate with leading global institutions to enhance our research impact and develop new therapeutic strategies. Read More Do you want to participate in our research? Click here to learn more Opportunities There are no open positions at this time. Contact

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