Bio Repository

Mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), substance use disorders, and dementia are highly complex, and the human brain is not readily accessible for direct investigation. In this context, well-characterized human induced pluripotent stem cell (HiPSC) lines derived from clinically and genetically characterized patients and healthy family members provide a powerful platform for disease modelling, mechanistic studies, drug discovery, and translational research. 

Over the past decade, we have established a family-based cohort comprising nearly 50 disease-specific families. From this cohort, we have generated approximately 150 patient-specific HiPSC lines from lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using episomal Yamanaka factor reprogramming. These cell lines have undergone comprehensive quality assessment and characterization in accordance with internationally accepted standards, creating a valuable resource for advancing mental health research.

In order to expand the program’s knowledge base on mental disorders, RN-CBM welcomes collaborations from other investigators and institutions. 

Requests for access to the repository will be reviewed by a scientific advisory committee and will be subjected to approvals by statutory bodies and under the conditions specified by the Government of India.