On 4th July 2023, The National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), an organisation dedicated to advancing Indian research and clinical practise in the fields of neurodevelopmental disorders and mental health, has officially revealed the “Rohini Nilekani institution for Brain and Mind.” The centre will support research into five mental disorders—schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, addiction, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and dementia—conditions that are believed to have neurodevelopmental roots through its collaboration with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) and NCBS’ therapeutic techniques. The centre will focus on the long-term examination of genetic and environmental variables that affect brain development and are responsible for serious mental illnesses.
The Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, autonomous entity known as the Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem-DBT), has created capacities in stem cell research. These skills will be combined in the center’s research projects. InStem has worked with NCBS on research initiatives including the Accelerator Programme for Discovery in Brain Disorders Using Stem Cells (ADBS) and will continue to do so in the future.
About National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS):
NCBS was established in 1992 and is affiliated with the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, one of India’s leading research institutions. It operates under the umbrella of the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India. The National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) is a premier research institute located in Bangalore, India. It is part of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and focuses on the study of biology, ranging from molecular and cellular biology to ecology and evolution. NCBS houses state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure to support its research activities. It includes well-equipped laboratories, advanced imaging facilities, genomics and proteomics facilities, animal research facilities, and computational resources. These resources enable researchers to conduct high-quality experiments and investigations.
