LinkedIn khenza242@gmail.com Back Back to People Page Back Lab Team Bioinformatics Aysha Khenza U Junior Bioinformatician Aysha Khenza is a junior bioinformatician with expertise in computational neuroscience, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. She holds an MSc in Computer Science specializing in AI and has developed advanced models for epilepsy detection and extreme weather prediction. Aysha has worked on various projects involving neuropsychiatric disorders, and her skills span a wide range of programming languages and data analysis tools. In her free time, Aysha enjoys mentoring students in programming and developing interactive learning platforms.

LinkedIn | Google Scholar vbenegal@gmail.com Back Back to People Page Back Investigator Team Addiction Dr Vivek Benegal Professor, Department of Psychiatry Dr Vivek Benegal works in addiction medicine and the genetics of psychiatric disorders. He is interested in developmental behaviour, especially drug abuse and high risk behaviour in street and working children. He is also interested in child development issues and the use of developmentally appropriate aids for children's education and recreation. He conducts drug abuse awareness programmes and life skills training for children in schools and colleges. He has developed a drug awareness module in comic book form. He is involved in the epidemiological assessment of and intervention in drug use and high risk sexual behaviour among street and working children. He has a diploma in communications in film and theatre, and has experience in theatre and documentary cinema. He has made three films, and educational slide shows, and he is interested in theatre and cinema for children.

LinkedIn fernandesblossom98@gmail.com Back Back to People Page Back MRI/EEG Team Blossom Fernandes Junior Research Fellow (Neuroimaging for ANC) Blossom is a JRF for Neuroimaging ANC at the Centre for Brain and Mind. With a Masters degree in Medical Imaging Technology with experience in clinical MRI and other modalities in imaging. She enjoys watching movies and TV series, exploring new places and playing badminton

Google Scholar | Twitter bijuv1@gmail.com Back Back to People Page Back Investigator Team Bipolar Disorder, Molecular Genetics, Stem Cell Research Dr Biju Viswanath Additional Professor, Department of Psychiatry Dr Biju Viswanath is a clinician-researcher and Additional Professor at the Centre for Brain and Mind and the Department of Psychiatry, NIMHANS. His interest lies in developing cellular models for psychiatric disorders. He trained as a psychiatrist and also received his Ph.D. from NIMHANS.

Google Scholar a.shyamsundar@gmail.com Back Back to People Page Back Co-Investigator Team Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Dr Shyam Sundar Professor, Department of Psychiatry Dr. Shyam Sundar A is an Associate Professor in psychiatry at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, India. He completed his MBBS from Coimbatore Medical College, Tamil Nadu in 2002 and his postgraduate training in psychiatry at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in 2006. He worked in AIIMS, New Delhi and Christian Medical College, Vellore before joining NIMHANS as a faculty in the department of psychiatry in 2011. He has been part of the obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) clinic since then. His areas of interest include obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). He was involved in a research project on the use of rTMS for OCD. He has published in many national and international scientific journals and authored various book chapters on psychiatry. He recently completed a fellowship in bipolar disorders from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

mayurvanish@gmail.com Back Back to People Page Back Clinical Team Bipolar Disorder Dr Pavithra Jayasankar Clinician Scientist (Equivalent to Assistant Professor) in Psychiatry

Instagram ao.cbmnimhans@gmail.com Back Back to People Page Back Admin Team Shatabdi Pal Adminstrative Officer Shatabdi is an Administrative Officer at the Centre for Brain and Mind. With a master's degree in commerce, specializing in accounts, she has over 8 years of dedicated experience in the fields of administration and accounts. Her primary responsibility involves providing vital administrative support to the scientific team, ensuring the seamless operation of the centre's activities. Outside the realm of numbers and paperwork, Shatabdi indulges her creative side as an illustrator during her spare time.

Google Scholar sjain.nimhans@gmail.com , docsanjeev.jain@gmail.com Back Back to People Page Back Co-Investigator Team Molecular Genetics Dr Sanjeev Jain Senior Professor Dpt. Of Psychiatry Sanjeev Jain is a clinician and a teacher, and researches the genetic correlates of psychiatric and neurological disease. He studied medicine at the Delhi University (Maulana Azad Medical College); and did his post-graduate studies at the NIMHANS. He has been a Commonwealth Fellow at Cambridge (UK), and the co-Director of a NIH-Fogarty training and mentorship program. He has provided the lead for, and participated in, several population and cohort studies, and also provides genetic testing for several neuro-degenerative disorders, as well as counseling services for these families. This work includes the genetics of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer’s disease and Huntington’s disease, as well as addiction and OCD. Over the past few years, discussions and collaboration with other colleagues at NIMHANS, the NCBS and inSTEM, have extended the research from the clinic, to the bench, using both clinical assessments (including MRI, EEG etc.) as well as tools of cellular and molecular biology, including WES, iPSC and neuronal cell lines from individuals diagnosed to have psychiatric illnesses, and their affected and unaffected relatives. He has been a member of the committee for drafting the Mental Health Policy document for India; and is also an Adjunct Faculty at the National Centre for Biological Sciences (TIFR), Bangalore. His other interests include the history of mental health services in India, from the colonial to the contemporary period. This work has helped understand the interface between science and medicine, and social responses to mental illness in India. The work has been supported by various funding agencies in India (DBT, ICMR, DST and the CSIR), as also the Wellcome Trust, NIH (Fogarty) and the MRC-ICMR.

LinkedIn | Google Scholar jagatth@yahoo.com , jaga@nimhans.ac.in Back Back to People Page Back Co-Investigator Team Schizophrenia Dr Jagadisha Thirthalli Professor, Department of Psychiatry Dr. Jagadisha Thirthalli is a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at NIMHANS (Faculty since 2002). He has 20 years of research and practical experience in ECT and other brain stimulation techniques. He’s had several awards including Marfatia Award of the Indian Psychiatric Society and CV Raman Award from Government of Karnataka and has publications in Brain Stimulation, Schizophrenia Research, Journal of ECT, Journal of Affective Disorders amongst others.

meenaksiyer@gmail.com Back Back to People Page Back Co-Investigator Team Dr K S Meena Professor and Head, Department of Mental Health Education

LinkedIn bsvaishnavi2022@gmail.com Back Back to People Page Back MRI/EEG Team Vaishnavi B S Junior Research Fellow (Neuroimaging - ADBS Data Centre) Vaishnavi BS, a Junior Research Fellow in Neuroimaging at the Center for Brain and Mind, holds a Master's in Cognitive Neuroscience and a Bachelor's in Life Sciences. Proficient in EEG data analysis and wet lab techniques, she is passionate about cognitive science research, focusing on ADHD and other psychiatric disorders, along with a keen interest in consciousness research, particularly in meditation. Beyond her academic pursuits, Vaishnavi indulges in various adventurous activities. Her diverse interests also span from cooking and painting to playing badminton and practicing yoga

vaishnavi.ravi19@gmail.com Back Back to People Page Back Lab Team Niveditha R Lab Technician Niveditha is a lab technician at the Centre for Brain and Mind. With a Degree in Medical laboratory technology. Niveditha has experience working in Microbiology especially in Virology with hands on experience in ELISA, PCR. She enjoys photography, trekking, exploring new places, food and dance.