Neuroscience at Jiwaji University

The University has timely identified the activities in this subject in the campus and established the Neuroscience Centre In November 2000 which has now taken the status of a University Teaching Department with a post-graduate programme in Neuroscience.

Message

There has never been a more exciting time to study the brain – the subject called NEUROSCIENCE. Neuroscience is truly interdisciplinary and rapidly expanding today. We are trying to develop NEUROSCIENTISTS of tomorrow.
A career in neuroscience demands training in diversified areas like biology, psychology, anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, toxicology, occupational biology, structural & molecular neurobiology, neurogenesis etc. The M.Sc. Neuroscience teaching programme provides training in most of these areas.
Along with theory and practical, students are encouraged to participate in ongoing faculty research as well as national and International training programmes of International Brain Research Organization, National Brain Research Centre and alike. Three of our M.Sc. Students have published research papers based on their project work in journals of reasonably high Impact Factor.
More than 75% of our students are working in India and abroad for their Ph.D. theses. Many are placed in R&D laboratories of pharmaceuticals companies.
Isn’t it exciting to know all these?
If you are looking forward to an exciting and challenging career, come and join us in our venture to prepare brains to understand how the brain makes us understand.

Best wishes!

Department profile *
The School of Studies in Neuroscience offers a platform for research and teaching towards understanding the structure and function of the brain. This is the first and only Post-Graduate Department in Indian Universities extending interdisciplinary and inter-Institutional training to students leading to the award of M.Sc. Neuroscience degree.
Generous financial support from the Department of Biotechnology, Department of Science & Technology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Indian Council of Medical Research, University Grants Commission and other agencies during past few years and strong academic backup and support from distinguished neuroscientists of national and international stature have allowed us to develop a research centre which one can boast of. We have successfully executed several major research projects, organized training workshops for research scientists and University and college teachers, symposia and conferences of National and International level. The School is well equipped with modern instrumentation as well as a good library. Our neuroscientists have been trained in leading Institutes in India and abroad. The students who obtained M.Sc. and Ph.D. from this Department are now working in established Institutes in the country and abroad.
The M.Sc. Neuroscience (supported by the Dept. of Biotechnology, Govt. of India) teaching programme takes care of the basic disciplines such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, pharmacology, etc. which provide a broad base during the first semester. This is followed by gradually specialized areas of neuroscience like neurochemistry, molecular neurobiology, genetics, neuroimmunology, development of brain, degeneration and regeneration of nervous system, systems neuroscience, learning, memory and cognition, clinical neurochemistry, tools, techniques and methods in neurobiology research.
In order to inculcate research skills in our students, in addition to their training at our research laboratory they get an exposure by way of project work/ training for up to 6 months in an established neuroscience laboratory.
We also make special efforts to promote an excellent general education that would provide the basis for careers in other areas such as teaching, commerce, and administration and management.

1.  Neuroscience research oriented positions in academia and industry,
2.   Carriers at the interface of the bench and bedside in the academic neuroscience or
   
3.  Even in the application oriented biomedical industry.

Scope for Placement

 M.Sc. Neuroscience programme has been designed to train students for neuroscience research oriented positions in Universities/Institutes/R&D Units of Pharmaceutical Companies engaged in production of neuropharmacological products and diagnostics, in India and abroad.

Number of Seats Available:  10 + NRI, No payment seats.

Studentship: Ten students shall be entitled for a studentship of Rs.1,200 pm.

Teaching Methods:

 The course is completed in a truly interdisciplinary and inter-Institutional mode. A variety of teaching methods are adopted including interactive lectures and seminars, group work, practical classes, computer based exercises as well as external visits to hospitals, Laboratories, Institutes, etc.

Course Structure

 It is a 2 years (4 Semesters) teaching programme. The students with a M.Sc. degree in Neuroscience would have acquired the basic knowledge in major disciplines of the subject such as neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, neurochemistry, molecular neurobiology, neurogenetics and the working of motor, sensory and regulatory systems, development and regeneration of the brain as well as aspects of biotechnology such as cell biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, immunology and tools of the trade. They would also acquire practical training in the above aspects as well as in research methodology and computational skills.

Faculty

The faculty consists of well-experienced teachers and scientists from Jiwaji University and premier Universities/ Institutes such as All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Banaras Hindu University, Central Drug Research Institute, Indian Institute of Toxicology Research and others.

Faculty (JU, Gwalior)

• Prof. Ishan Patro
• Prof. P.K. Tiwari
• Dr. Nisha Patro
• Dr. Buvana Rajan
  

Visiting Faculty:

Research Scholars

Degree awarded

1. Dr. Praveena Singhal (1996)
2. Dr. Suresh Bhardwaj (1997)
3. Dr. Munmun Chattopadhyay (1998)
4. Dr. Manisha Bajpai (2006)
5. Dr. Vandana Shrivastava (2006)
6. Dr. Kapil Saxena (2008)
7. Dr. Sarika Kushwah (2009)
8. Dr. Anchal Gusain (2009)
9. Dr. Mrs. Meghna Saxena (2010)

Submitted

1. Mr. Biswajit Mishra (2010)
2. Ms. Gunjan Saxena (2010)
3. Mrs. Surya Tripathi

Working

• Mr. Amit
• Miss Arpita Sharma
• Mr. Kamendra Kumar
• Mr. Shashank Tiwari
• Mr. P. Vijayabhaskar
• Miss Aarti Nagayach
• Mr. Suresh C. Bokoliya
• Miss S. Swarnkar
• Mr. Mohsin Khan
• Miss Divyasha Saxena
• Miss Raj Priya
• Miss Shashi Sharma

Extension Lectures by Eminent Neuroscientists from India and Abroad

Prof. P.N. Tandon, President, National Brain research Centre, Manesar.
Prof. M. Gourie Devi, Sr. Consultant Neurologist, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi & Hon. Advisor in Neurological Research, ICMR, New Delhi.
Prof. Mahdi Hasan, Emeritus Professor, KG’s Medical University, Lucknow.
Prof. K. Subba Rao, School of Life Sciences, Hyderabad university, Hyderabad.
Prof. P.K. Seth, CEO, Biotechnology Park, Lucknow.
Prof. Vijayalaxmi Ravindranath, Director, National Brain Research Centre, Manesar.
Prof. Y.K. Gupta, Head, Dept. of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.
Prof. V.K. Bhasin, Dept. of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi.
Dr. Pamela Baker and Dr. D.L. Baker, College of Lewiston, Maine, USA
Dr. Srinivas N. Pentyala, School of Medicine, State University of New York, NY, USA.
Dr. Stan Terrace, Rainishaw, UK.

Student's Achivements

 Our students have been very actively participating in various scientific activities, training programmes and conferences, etc. Some of the important events attended during 2006-2008 are as follows:

Students’ Academic Events:Participation in

Abroad

• “International Brain Research Organization & International Society for Neurochemistry School in Neuroscience” National University of Singapore. 25th June- 16th July, 2006
• “6th IBRO- Associate School of Neuroscience” Venue: Tarbiat Modarres University (TMU), Tehran, Iran. Organized by: International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) and TMU, Iran. 26th -30th Aug 2006
• “1st Neuroscience Orientation Summer Program” Venue: SB Medical University and TMU, Tehran, Iran. Organized by: Iranian Society of Physio. and Pharma. and IBRO. 2nd -21st Sept 2006
• “Biennial Meeting of Asia Pacific Society for Neurochemistry (Conference)”, Scientific Exhibition and Conference Center, Singapore. 17th July, 2006
• “1st UAE- IBRO Neuroscience School- Fundamentals of Basic and Clinical Neurosciences” UAE University, Al Ain, UAE. Organized by: UAE University Neuroscience Group and IBRO. 24th - 31st Jan 2007

India

• “Brain Awareness Day.”  School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, Organized by: JNU & NBRC, Manesar, Haryana, India. 03rd April 2006
• “National Symposium on Neural Plasticity and Repair” and “Workshop on Evaluation of Plastisity in Pain” Department of Anatomy & Physiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Ansari Nagar, New Delhi- 11002 & Indian Society of Pain Research and Therapy18th – 19th October 2006
• “Workshop on Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) for Academia” AIIMS, New Delhi. Organized by: Dept. of Sci. & Tech., Government of India. 24th & 25th Nov 2006
• “III International NBRC Conference” National Brain Research Centre, Manesar, India. 13th -15th Dec 2006
• DSI- GENTECH Workshop “Building an Integrated Physiological Monitoring System: A Discussion and Demonstration of DSI Product and their Application” Taj Hotel, New Delhi 12th October 2006
• “Workshop on Bioinformatics and Biomathematics” at SOMAS, Jiwaji University, Gwalior. 14th -16th January 2006
• 24th annual conference of Indian academy of Neuroscience: “International update on basics and clinical neuroscience advances” Industrial toxicology research centre, Lucknow, 17th- 20th December 2006
• 26th Annual Meeting of Toxicology (STOX) India “International Conference on Toxicology, Toxicogenomics and Occupational Health (ICTTOH), at Jiwaji University, Gwalior.  9th -11th October 2006
• How to Write a Scientific/ Medical Paper?  Jointly organized by Cancer Hospital and Research Unit, Gwalior and Gajra Raja Medical College, Gwalior.  24th September 06.
• “Centenary Commemoration of Alzheimer’s Disease & 12th Annual Conference of Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Society of India” New Delhi. 9th -11th November 2006
• Workshop on “Neurochemical Techniques for the Neuroscientists”, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology funded by International society for Neurochemistry and International Brain Research Organization.  29th December 2006 -7th January 2007
• Annual Conference of Society for Neurochemistry, India (SNCI) at Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata. 8th- 9th January  2007
• One week Hands-on Training at the Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre, Bhopal. 12th -19th February 2007
• International Symposium on Advances in Neuroscience and Silver Jubilee Conference of Indian Academy of Neuroscience at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. 22nd -25th November 2007.
• National Seminar on “Nanotechnology and its Applications” Jiwaji University, Gwalior. 30th March 2008

Research publications of M.Sc. Students based on their Project Work 

• Gaur, Pankaj, Thakur,  B.K., Sharma, P.K., Oka, T. and Thakur, M.K. (2005) Expression of perchloric acid soluble 14kDa protein in mouse brain. Annal of Neurosciences, volume12, 12-15.
• Kumari, Amrita, Sen, Sreetama and Mohanakumar, KP (2007) Atropine, a muscarinic cholinergic receptor antagonist increases serotonin, but not dopamine levels in discrete brain regions of mice Neuroscience Letters 423(2):100-3 (I.F. about 2.00).

Patro, I., Saxena, K., Tiwari, S and Patro, N. (2008) FK506 helps motor Co-ordination recovery following sciatic nerve transection in the young but not in senile rats. International Journal of Neuroprotection and Neuroregeneration (In Press).

Important Recent Publications

1. Saxena, Gunjan, Patro, I.K. and Nath, C. (2011) ICV STZ induced impairment in memory and neuronal mitochondrial function: A protective role of nicotinic receptor. Behavioural Brain Research (Accepted). (Impact Factor: 3.22)
2. Swarankar, Supriya, Singh, Sarika, Sharma, S., Mathur, R, Patro, I.K. and Nath, C. (2011) Rotenone induced neurotoxicity in rat brain areas: A histopathological study. Neuroscience Letters, 495: 178-182. (Impact Factor: 1.925)
3. Khan, M., Dhanwani, R., Patro, I.K., Rao, P.V.L. and Parida, M.M. (2011) Cellular IMPDH enzyme activity is a potential target for the inhibition of Chikungunya virus replication and virus induced apoptosis in cultured mammalian cells. Antiviral Res., 89: 1-8. (Impact Factor: 3.612)
4. Khan Z., Khan, N., Tiwari, R.P., Patro, I.K., Prasd, G.B.K.S. and Bisen, P.S. (2010) Down-regulation of surviving by oxaliplatin diminishes radioresistance of head and nech squamous carcinoma cells. Radiother. Oncol., 96: 267-273. (Impact Factor: 4.831)
5. Swarnkar, S., Singh, S., Mathur, R., Patro, I.K. and Nath, C. (2010) A study to correlate rotenone induced biochemical changes and cerebral damage in brain areas with neuromuscular coordination in rats. Toxicology, 272: 17–22. (Impact Factor: 3.241)
6. Mishra, B., Srivastava V.K., Chaudhry, R., Somvanshi, R.K., Singh, A.K., Gill, K., Somvanshi, R., Ishan Kumar Patro, I.K. and  Dey, S. (2010) SD-8, a novel therapeutic agent active against multidrug-resistant Gram positive cocci. Amino Acids, 39: 1493-1505. (Impact Factor: 3.877)
7. Patro, Nisha, Nagayach, Aarti and Patro, I.K. (2010) Iba1 expressing microglia in the dorsal root ganglia become activated following peripheral nerve injury in rats. Indian J. Exptl. Biol., 48: 110-116. (Impact Factor: 0.55)
8. Patro, I.K., Amit, Shrivastava, M., Bhumika, S. and Patro N. (2010) Poly I:C induced microglial activation impairs motor activity in adult rats. Indian J. Exptl. Biol., 48: 104-109. (Impact Factor: 0.55)
9. Patro, I.K. and Patro, Nisha (2009) Studies on aging of the brain. In: Neurosciences in India. Indian Academy of Neurosciences and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, pp. 319-334.
10. Shrivastava, Meghna, Patro, Nisha, Kumar, K. and Patro, I.K (2009) Changes in pain sensitivity with age, differ in male and female Wistar rats, Rattus norvegicus (Berkenhout). Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. India, Sect. B, 79(III): 235-239.
11. Kumar, N., Singh, S., Patro, Nisha and Patro, I.K. (2009) Evaluation of protective efficacy of Spirulina platensis against collagen induced arthritis in rats. Inflammopharmacology, 17(3): 181-190.
12. Patro, Nisha, Shrivastava, Meghna, Tripathi, Surya & Patro, I.K. (2009) S100β upregulation: A possible mechanism of deltamethrin toxicity and motor coordination deficits. Neurotoxicol. Teratol, 31:169-176. (Impact Factor: 3.274)

 M.Sc. Students Attended IBRO and FAONS Conferences Abroad

Training & Placement
The first 8 batches (78 students) passed out during July 2003- July 2010. Of these 58 students, 40 have been able to get placement in leading Neuroscience Laboratories of the country through the selection procedures of the respective Institutes they are in. Two students have cleared the CSIR-UGC NET, one in BET and most have qualified the GATE with very good percentiles. Many of the students have appeared in the NET examination the result of which is awaited. The placement details are as follows:
Placement (Out of 78 Students who passed out)

Abroad

• Cambridge University, UK (1)
• CCHD, Vienna Medical University, Austria (1)
• MCBO, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria (2)
• University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada (2)
• University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada (1)
• MBD Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea (1)
• Ruhr University, Germany (1)
• International School for Advanced Studies of Trieste, Neurobiology sector, Italy (1)

• Departments of Anatomy and Physiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi  (6)
• Department of Zoology, MLS University, Udaipur (1)
• Zoology Department, University of Allahabad (1)
• Dept. of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi (3)
• Division of Pharmacology, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow (1)
• Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur (2)
• National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR, Bangalore (1)
• National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore (1)
• National Brain Research Centre, Manesar, Gurgaon (1)
• School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi (1)
• School of Studies in Neurosciences, Jiwaji University, Gwalior (6)
• Dr. Reddy’s Lab, Hyderabad (2)
• HariHar Biotech., Agra (1)
• Reliance Clinical, Mumbai (1)
• Suven Life Sciences, Hyderabad (1)
• Tata Consultancy Services, Noida (1)
• Anthem, Biosciences, Bangalore (1)
• Indian Army (1)
• Government employee (2)
• National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad (1)
• Himalaya Drug Company, Bangalore (1)
• S.R. Kalla Memorial Gastro & General hospital, Jaipur (1)
• Auroprobe Laboratories, Delhi (1)
• IBI Biosolutions, Chandigarh (1)
• Trista Science Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore (2)
• Dabur Research Foundation, Ghaziabad (1)
• Centre for Neural and Cognitive Science, Univ. of Hyderabad, Hyderabad (1)

• All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi
• Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi
• Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Lucknow
• Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad
• Defence Institute of Physiology and Applied Sciences (DIPAS), New Delhi
• Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE), Gwalior
• GR Medical College, Gwalior
• Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB), Kolkata
• Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc), Bangalore
• Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur
• Industrial Toxicology Research Centre (ITRC), Lucknow
• Institute of Genomics and Integrated Biology (IGIB), Delhi
• Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi
• KG’s Medical University, Lucknow
• MLS University, Udaipur
• National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), TIFR, Bangalore
• National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore
• SN Pradhan Centre for Neuroscience, Univ. of Calcutta, Kolkata
• University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad
• Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bangalore

Students from other Institutes trained here

Cancer Hospital & Research Institute, Gwalior
GR Medical College, Gwalior
Orissa Univ. of Agriculture & Technology, Bhubaneswar
Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences, New Delhi
Defence Research and Development Establishment, Gwalior
Madhav Institute of Technology and Science, Gwalior
Pondichery University, Pondicherry
Jain College, Bangalore
University of Allahabad, Allahabad
Sastra University, Thanjavur

Available Facilities at the School

Books and Journals

We have more than1,000 books available on Neuroscience and allied areas.

Major Equipments

Research Activities

Ph.D. Programme 
The Centre intends to educate future scientists who will become leading researchers and educators in the brain sciences.

Key Areas of Study

• Involvement of glia in brain development, aging and injury
• Cellular and molecular basis of brain aging
• Neurotoxicology: Developmental Neurotoxicology
• Adult Neurogenesis (Neural stem cell research)
• Glial response to infections

Research Projects

During 1989-2007 we have completed 08 research projects and 03 are in  hand on aspects of brain research like neurotoxicology of commonly  used household and agriculturally important chemicals, stress and brain  response, development of brain areas, possibility of retardation of aging  changes in brain, drugs for the aging brain, behaviour and color change  in  animals and cell death in brain at old age. We have been supported  by the Department of Biotechnology Department of Science &  Technology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and Defense  Research and Development Establishment. The following is a detailed  information on our research projects.

Training Workshops Organized

1. Sixth Neuroscience Society of India Workshop on Techniques in Neuroscience, December 8-20, 1997
2. Workshop on Morphometric Evaluation of Brain for Neurotoxicological Studies, December 3-5, 1999
3. Planning and presentation of Research Proposals, August 10, 2001

Conferences and Symposia Organized in Neuroscience:

1. National Symposium on Biology of Ageing, October 29-31, 1993
2. National Symposium on Frontiers of Neuroscience, December 8, 1997
3. 'Neuroscience 2000 and Beyond': 17th Annual Conference of Indian Academy of Neurosciences, Annual Meeting of Neuroscience Society of India, National Symposium on Cellular and Molecular Basis of Brain Function, December 6-8, 1999
4. Neuroscience: From Basics to Clinics, 22nd Annual Conference of Indian Academy of Neurosciences, 2005
5. National Symposium on Glial Neurobiology, October 23, 2007
6. Satellite Symposium of The 5th Congress of Federation of Asian-Oceanian Neuroscience Societies on ‘Glial Cells in Health and Disease, November 30 – December 01, 2010.

We now have research collaboration with Scientists at NIMHANS, Banglore; AIIMS, New Delhi; CDRI, Lucknow; IITR, Lucknow and DRDE, Gwalior.

Training Obtained in India and Abroad

Neuroscientists of the Department have visited some leading international Centres like the MRC Neurochemical Pathology Unit, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Department of Molecular Biology, North-Western University, Evanston, Illinois, USA; Department of Physiology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Department of Physiology, University of Singapore, Singapore. The recent one at the University of Cologne, Germany. We actively collaborate with some of the leading Institutes in the Country in executing our activities. Collaborative exchange program with a German Institute was supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) and Indian National Science Academy (INSA). We are now strengthening this relationship.
Our Faculty and Post-doctoral Fellows have participated in the Overseas Collaborative research at the MRC Neurochemical Pathology Unit at Newcastle upon Tyne.
We now have research collaboration with Scientists at NIMHANS, Bangalore; AIIMS, New Delhi and CDRI, Lucknow.

Contact Person