Research Labs
Common Research Facilities
Advanced Flow Cytometry Laboratory
The Advanced Flow Cytometry Laboratory enables sorting and analysis of single cells based on multiple parameters respectively. Students/researchers from the Departments of Neurovirology and Neuropathology use this facility for their research works.
Translational Psychiatry Laboratory
The Translational Psychiatry Laboratory (TransPsychLab) facilities have been created towards initiation of an integrated clinical research facility with focus on translational applications in psychiatry. This research facility is supported by research grants from Welcome Trust/DBT India Alliance Senior Fellowship Award as well as from the Department of Biotechnology. The goal of the TransPsych Lab is to evaluate and establish composite biomarkers involving neuroimmunobiological abnormalities in Schizophrenia and other disorders like Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Bipolar Affective Disorder and Alzheimers disease. The vision of this Centre is to create a translational research facility of international caliber,integrating clinical,neuroimmunological,neuropathological,neuroimaging and advanced computational
research techniques to examine the Neuroimmunopathogenetic Model for Schizophrenia.
Metabolic Laboratory
This Laboratory conducts high-throughput,mass spectrometry(MS)-based screening for Inborn Errors of Metabolism(IEM).In a drop of blood collected on filter paper, 40 analytes are measured including 10 amino acids,free carnitine and 29 acyl carnitines. Based on the characteristic profiles,inborn errors of amino acid metabolism, fatty acid oxidation defects and organic acidemias are identified. This facility, which is the first of its kind in a government set-up in the country, attracts samples from all over India as well as from other neighbouring countries.
Molecular Biology Laboratories-Communicable and Non-Communicable
This facility is being used for Cell culture work.
Multi-modal Brain Image Analysis Laboratory Metabolic Laboratory
This laboratory aims at integrating the acquisition and analysis of multiple modalities of brain imaging for a more comprehensive understanding of brain structure, function and signalling in various neuropsychiatric disorders. This facility aims at employing an integrated multi-disciplinary approach to examine brain structure and function in health and disease through active collaborations between various departments both within and outside the institute. Research projects being undertaken at MBIAL include multi-modal imaging genomics studies in schizophrenia and dementia, as wellas of certain cognitive processes
Neuro-Oncology Lab
The Neuro-Oncology Lab was established in September 2011 with a prime objective of translational research in NeuroOncology. In addition to tissue based research carried out at the lab, collaborations with core biological research institutes have promoted dissection of various pathways related to gliomagenesis.
Molecular Genetics Laboratory
The lab has been involved in several research and molecular diagnostics projects in neuropsychiatric disorders including schizophrenia, dementia, OCD, alcoholism spino-cerebellar ataxia, muscular dystrophy
Bioinformatics Laboratory
The lab is actively involved in genomic, proteomic phospoproteomic and glycoproteomic analysis of various human tissues to understand the cellular biology. The main areas of thrust at this laboratory are study of chronic meningitis like tuberculous meningitis, cryptococcal meningitis, and rabies encephalitis.
Cell Culture and Stem Cell Biology
The primary cultures of motor neurons, astrocytes, microglia, olfactory bulb and cell lines of motor neurons(NSC-34), Dopaminergic neurons(N27), Neuroblastoma(SHSY5Y) and glioblastoma(U251MG, U87MG)are grown in the cell culture laboratory.These cell lines are used as cellular model system to delineate the pathogenesis of ALS, Parkinsons disease and Glioma.
Electrophysiology Laboratory
The electrophysiology laboratory is engaged in studying the synaptic plasticity mechanisms in various animal models of neurological and psychiatric disorders in various animal models of neurological and psychiatric disorders are being studied using live brain slices of the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex.
Optical Imaging Lab
The laboratory is equipped with confocal microscope, epifluorescence systems for imaging and patch clamp setup for electrical recording from cells.These state-of-the-art techniques are being used by the researchers to unravel the cellular and molecular basis of physiological and pathological signalling in the nervous system
Neuromuscular Laboratory
The Neuromuscular Laboratory was conceptualized with the objectives of providing molecular diagnosis for neuromuscular disorders (muscular dystrophies, spinal muscular atrophy,myotonic dystrophy, and mitochondrial disorders)
Neurotoxicology Laboratory
The laboratory employs biochemical,proteomic and epigenetic methods to understand the toxicological basis of disease and the role of oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage.
Music Cognition Laboratory
The research focus of this laboratory is music cognition and neuromusicology from basic science to clinical application.This is the first laboratory in India which aims at scientific investigations into basic cognition and neural correlates of music perception and cognition as well as application of music in clinical conditions.