Research
Nandakumar DN Primary brain tumors | Dr.Nandakumar’s lab Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most common and most malignant tumours of the central nervous system. It is notorious for its highly infiltrative and invasive behavior. Despite new diagnostic techniques and combined modality therapy prognosis remains dismal. Decades of surgical therapy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy have failed to drastically change survival. Glioma cells have exceptional ability to infiltrate normal brain, often along blood vessels or nerve fibres. This feature makes complete radical surgical resection virtually impossible and leading in almost all cases to tumor recurrence. Several factors are thought to contribute to the invasive and migratory properties of GBM cells, interacting with the microenvironment and enhancing motility and invasion. We aim at understanding glutamate excitotoxicity in GBM, glutamate receptor pathway, the role inflammatory and regulatory cytokines and its signaling on migration, proliferation and invasiveness of tumour and contribute to the understanding of the complex biological interactions that regulate glioblastoma growth, invasion and recurrence. |
Sarada Subramanian, Thrust Area of Research | Dr. Sarada Subramanian’s lab The major focus is on (i) development of therapeutic strategies to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) using non-transgenic rodent models and (ii) Identification of plasma based protein biomarkers for neurodegenerative disorders such as AD. |
Dr. Subashchandrabose Chinnathambi, Additional Professor of Neurochemistry Thrust Areas of Research Physiopathology of neurodegenerative disorders, Tau-Cytoskeleton, Tau-GPCR, Purinergic and Chemokine receptors, Tau-Lipids, Animal models, Neuropharmacology, Translational research | Dr. Subashchandrabose Chinnathambi’s Lab (Neuro-Cytoskeleton lab) Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cognitive and behavioral impairment. Worldwide 44 million people are known to have AD and its related dementia. Abnormal protein deposits in the brain, such as extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), characterize AD. The microtubule-associated protein Tau (MAPT) plays a key role in several neurodegenerative diseases, like AD, FTDP-17 and Parkinson’s disease etc. The axonal protein Tau is expressed in the adult human brain as six different isoforms. Due to alternative splicing, two N-terminal inserts and the second repeat in the C-terminal microtubule-binding domain can be present or absent. Upon hyperphosphorylation, Tau disassembles from microtubule (MT) and self-assembles to form NFTs, which consist of straight-paired helical filaments (PHFs). Several factors are responsible for triggering under pathological conditions, such as post-translational modifications, oxidative stress, truncation, and metal ions etc. Our lab is mainly interested to understand the extracellular Tau internalization in astro-microglial system. Our group identified the Phagocytosis of full-length Tau oligomers by Actin-remodeling of activated microglia. Further the α-Linoleic acid modulates phagocytosis of extracellular Tau and induces microglial migration and actin remodeling in Tauopathy. Further, our work involves in channelizing the lipid-based modulators to polarize microglia/ microglial receptor-based (GPCRs-P2Y12 and CX3CR1) targeting mechanisms for better internalization and subsequent degradation of these Tau seeds by employing various cell-based stimulated approaches. Scientific interests Opportunities Ph.D. Positions: Key publications from the lab |
Dr. Gokulakrishnan, Associate Professor of Neurochemistry Thrust Areas of Research: Gut Microbiome and DNA Methylome studies at the interface of Neuro-Psychiatric /Metabolic Disorders | Dr Gokul’s lab Research Specialization: Disease Biology; gut microbiome, epigenetics and metabolomics aspects of Metabolic Diseases/Neuro-Psychiatric disorders; and biomarker(s) identification for early disease prediction. Dr. Gokulakrishnan possesses domain expertise in biomarker research and disease biology and develops precision intervention strategies. He has over 16 years of research experience with multidisciplinary clinical and basic research skills and has published over 60 research papers in peer reviewed journals and also coauthored three chapters in textbooks. He is presently working on certain unique programmes such as understanding the role of gut microbiome, DNA Methylome biomarkers at the interspace of Neuro-psychiatry and metabolic disorders ; novel biomarker(s) identification for early disease prediction The long-term goal of my lab is to expand the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of Neuro-psychiatry and metabolic disorders and to identify diagnostic/predictive biomarkers of disease & build a program to establish a ‘Centre of Excellence’ in Clinical Gut Microbiome studies for translational applications. Presently his lab is interested in recruiting postgraduate students for PhD program preferably those who are awarded CSIR, ICMR, UGC, DBT JRF fellowships |
Dr. Ravish H. MBBS MD (ASST PROF) | Dr. Ravish H. MBBS MD (ASST PROF) For any kind of discomfort or trauma body responds well by briefing certain chemicals or secretions as indicators. This response could be predominantly in the form of stress and pain, which could be an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage leading to disorder/syndrome or disease. |