Accelerator Program for Discovery in Brain disorders using Stem cells
(Funded by the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India
Principal Investigator: Prof Sanjeev Jain, Department of Psychiatry
Clinical Co-ordinator/Co-PI: Prof YC Janardhan Reddy
Participating Institutions:
NCBS (National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore)
InStem (Institute for Stem Cell Science & Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore)
Key Objectives:
The ADBS proposal is a prospective study, which involves brain imaging of at least 1500 participants (300 patients with major psychiatric illness, 900 unaffected relatives and 300 controls), over repeated occasions. Contemporary imaging methods are being used successfully to study development, structure and connectivity patterns in the human brain. This will be essential to complement the leads being gained from the biological experiments, for further insights. The shared genetic risk, and overlapping but separate environmental exposures, will be assessed for their possible influence on imaging characteristics, in subjects included in this study. This aspect is a very critical aspect, and the central element in this proposal to investigate the differential brain developmental trajectories which underlie psychiatric diseases and correlation with genetic and cellular variations.
OCD is one of the psychiatric disorders being evaluated for this study.
Eligibility Criteria for Participation:
Having multiple (2 or more) members in the family (parents or siblings) who are affected with OCD or any of the other major psychiatric illnesses (Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Alcohol Dependence & Dementia)
OCD Cohort Team:
Dr. Srinivas Balachander (Clinician Scientist/Assistant Professor)
Ms. Mahashweta Bhattacharya (Clinical Psychologist)
Mr. Anand Jose K (Psychiatric Social Worker)