Neurotrophic factors are extracellular signalling molecules that play an important role in the regulation of Neural Stem Precursor cell (NSPCs) proliferation and differentiation within the adult neurogenic niche in the brain. This project focuses on understanding the role of neurotrophic factors like the Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor (CNTF), and Leukemia Inhibitor Factor (LIF) plays in the fate determination of NSPCs. Also, to identify the molecular properties of CNTF and LIF responsive NSPCs population and how they regulate the proliferation and differentiation of these populations. Ultimately, this work will lead to the generation of homogeneous cultures of Neural Precursor Cells (NPCs) that may be potentially more suitable for use in cell transplantation therapies in neurodegenerative diseases.

The Centre for Neuroscience believes that collaboration between academia and industry is needed to catalyse research and innovation. The Centre's partnership with the industry provides a venue for the Researchers and students to improve competitiveness, develop managerial and entrepreneur skills and contribute to growth in technology. Centre for Neuroscience has joined hands with AKAY Natural Ingredients Pvt Ltd, the largest oleoresin manufacturer and one of the leading nutraceuticals manufacturers, to co-develop natural spices-based food supplements for the management of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease. The pathogenetic cascades underlying the progressive neurodegeneration in PD have not been elucidated fully. Alterations in the gut microbiota (GM) have recently become a hotspot in the research on PD pathogenesis; the resulting metabolomic changes could influence or even trigger PD pathology in the brain through the gut microbiota-brain axis (GMBA). This is an exploratory study and the aims are to distinguish the gut microbiome of PD patients and healthy volunteers in the South Indian population and to compare and quantify metabolite changes in biological fluids to the pattern of gut microbiota to explore any relation with pathogenetic mechanisms known to be involved in the occurrence of PD. We hope that the study results could pave the way for a better understanding of pathogenetic mechanisms of PD and open up more therapeutic avenues including interventions targeting the gut microbiota alterations ike faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) or faecal bacteriotherapy in near future.

Parkinson disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease. The pathogenetic cascades underlying the progressive neurodegeneration in PD have not been elucidated fully. Alterations in the gut microbiota (GM) have recently become a hotspot in the research on PD pathogenesis; the resulting metabolomic changes could influence or even trigger PD pathology in the brain through the gut microbiota-brain axis (GMBA). This is an exploratory study and the aims are to distinguish the gut microbiome of PD patients and healthy volunteers in the South Indian population and to compare and quantify metabolite changes in biological fluids to the pattern of gut microbiota to explore any relation with pathogenetic mechanisms known to be involved in the occurrence of PD. We hope that the study results could pave the way for a better understanding of pathogenetic mechanisms of PD and open up more therapeutic avenues including interventions targeting the gut microbiota alterations ike faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) or faecal bacteriotherapy in near future.

The aim of the project is to develop a 3D scaffold by using femtosecond lasers for neural tissue engineering applications. The state of the art femtosecond lasers uses a two-photon polymerisation approach to cure the photopolymer in the presence of a photoinitiator in a predefined path specified by the software. The incorporation of the right combination of growth factors in the scaffold and fine-tuned physiochemical properties of the polymer material provides the proper niche for the growth and differentiation of the cell. The somatic cells taken from the host is an ideal cell source as it will not induce any immune reaction. The somatic cell from other tissue can be reprogrammed to become neuron-like cells using a combination of growth factors and small molecules. The project by nature is multidisciplinary and requires expertise in the field of physics, polymer science and biotechnology. The ultimate aim is to create a construct that is capable of integrating with the host tissue and perform all necessary functions of the cortical region lost due to injury with no immune reaction.

It is established that the mutated cell's microenvironment can play a crucial role in cancer formation. Even though the importance of micro-niche in cancer initiation, progression, and invasion is a hot topic of research in the recent past, the specific role of neurocrine factors from the niche is an area not explored by many researchers. Dr. Unnikrishnan's research group aims to uncover the role of nerve-derived micro-niche signals in cancer formation and cancer cell dormancy using in vitro and in vivo models.