Department of Basic Neurosciences (Virtual Department)
Genesis of the department:
In the year 2001, M Phil Neurosciences course was introduced and initially governed by M Phil Neurosciences course committee comprising of faculty members from Basic Sciences Departments. This M Phil Course being multidisciplinary in nature, provided opportunity to students from different streams such as medical/ engineering/ basic sciences etc. and the graduated students proceeded for PhD programmes in India and aboard. The alumni have achieved academic excellence and are holding higher scientific positions in Academia/ Industry in India and abroad.
Encouraged with the success of M Phil in Neurosciences programme, based on the recommendations of Academic council of this Institute, the Governing Body in its 4th meeting held on Jan 31, 2018 accorded approval for creation of virtual department in Basic Neurosciences. Soon after, the following faculty members were appointed in adjunct positions starting from Apr 1, 2018 till Mar 31, 2020: Dr TN Sathyaprabha, Professor of Neurophysiology as Head of virtual department and Dr N Gayathri, Professor of Neuropathology and Dr Mariamma Phillip, Associate Professor of Biostatistics as members of Virtual Department. It is during this time that seeds were sown to add positions for PhD in Basic Neurosciences.
During the tenure of Apr 1, 2020 – Jun 30, 2023, Dr BS Shankaranarayana Rao, Professor of Neurophysiology served as Head of virtual department and Dr TC Yasha, Professor of Neuropathology and Dr B Binukumar, Associate Professor of Biostatistics as members of virtual department. In this period, PhD in Basic Neurosciences introduced and the selected students have enrolled for PhD under the primary guidance of faculty members from Basic Sciences Departments (Biophysics, Biostatistics, Clinical Psychopharamcology and Neurotoxicology, Human Genetics, Neurochemistry, Neuromicrobiology, Neurophysiology, and Neurovirology).