- ICCONS,Shoranur, Palakkad (0466)2224869; 6238440945
- ICCONS, Pulayanarkotta,Trivandrum-11 (0471)2440232, 2447729
- icconssrr@gmail.com
- icconstvpm2018@gmail.com
Neurogenetics Department
ICCONS is recognized as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO) by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Govt of India. The Genetics Department has full-fledged, state-of-art facilities for basic and advanced molecular and genetics research. The department has several ongoing research projects sponsored by the central [Dept. of Science & Technology-Cognitive Science Research Initiative (DST-CSRI), DST-Science and Engineering Research Board (DST-SERB) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)] and state government [Kerala State Council for Science, Technology & Environment (KSCSTE)] funding agencies. The research projects are aimed at unraveling the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying basic cognitive functions by integrating current cutting-edge research across multiple practical and theoretical disciplines including medical science, paramedical science, and basic and applied sciences. This is expected to reveal the pathobiological mechanisms underlying cognitive and communicative neurological disorders.
1. Genetic characterization and clinical correlates of polymicrogyria syndromes
Principal investigator (PI): Dr. Anitha Ayyappan Pillai
Funding agency: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Govt. of India
Duration: 2020-2023; Amount: 25,00,000/- INR
2. Photoparoxysmal EEG responses in children with idiopathic generalized epilepsy- Genetic characterization and clinical correlates
Principal investigator (PI): Dr. Anitha Ayyappan Pillai
Funding agency: Dept. of Science and Technology-Cognitive Science Research Initiative (DST-CSRI), Govt. of India
Duration: 2019-2022; Amount: 29,60,200/- INR
3. DNA methylation analysis in specific language impairment.
PI: Dr. Anitha Ayyappan Pillai
Funding Agency: SERB
Duration: 2018-21; Amount- 36,30,000/-
4. Extensive mutational analysis of neural and synaptic genes using next generation sequencing approaches in Indian autism families
PI: Dr. Thanseem Ismail (Project Scientist, Dept. of Neurogenetics)
Funding agency: KSCSTE
Duration: 2016-2022; Amount: INR 21,20,000 /-
o Completed Projects
1.Targeted exon sequencing to identify novel, rare and/or common functional genetic variants in autism: A comprehensive twin-family study of autism in Kerala
PI: Dr. Anitha Ayyappan Pillai
Funding Agency: KSCSTE
Duration: 2018-21; Amount: INR 23,27,000/-
2. Can microRNAs modulate telomere length in autism?
PI: Dr. Mahesh Mundalil Vasu
Mentor: Dr. Anitha Ayyappan Pillai
Funding Agency- DST-SERB
Duration- 2017-19; Amount: INR 19,20,000/-
3.Mechanisms behind integration of brain activity across specialized brain regions for cognitive processing and perception
PI: Dr. P A Sureshi
Funding Agency: DST-CSRI
Duration: 36 months (2016-19); Amount: INR 89,00,000/-
Peer-reviewed international journals
1. Indiradevi K P, Suhara E M, Poovathinal S A, Anitha A, Jasmin E A. Effect of smartphone distractions on cognitive performance in adolescents: An Electroencephalography Approach. Basic Clin Neurosci (Accepted).
2. Suhail TA, Indiradevi KP, Suhara EM, Poovathinal SA, Anitha A. Electroencephalography-based detection of cognitive state during learning tasks: An extensive approach. Cogn Brain Behav An Interdiscip J (Accepted).
3. Anitha A, Poovathinal S A, Viswambharan V, Thanseem I, Iype M, Anoop U, Sumitha P S, Parakkal R, Vasu MM. MECP2 mutations in the Rett syndrome patients from south India. Neurol India (Accepted).
4. Anitha A, Viswambharan V, Thanseem I, Parakkal R, Sumitha PS, Vasu MM (2021) Vitamins and cognition: A nutrigenomics perspective. Curr Nutr Food Sci 17:348-362.
5. Mandamkulathil D, Anitha A, Poovathinal SA, Chengappa SK, Chandrasekar A, Murthy ASN, Srividhya D, Tirumalaraj S, Pengaluru PR (2019) Lack of association of OXTR variants with autism spectrum disorders in a south Indian population. J Indian Assoc Child Adolesc Ment Health 15: 102-123.
6. Mandamkulathil D, Anitha A, Poovathinal SA, Chengappa SK, Chandrasekar A, Murthy ASN, Srividhya D, Tirumalaraj S, Pengaluru PR (2019) Association of AVPR1A gene microsatellites with autism spectrum disorder in south Indian population. Int J Sci Res Biol Sci 6: 203-207.
7. Anitha A, Poovathinal SA, Viswambharan V, Thanseem I, Mahesh MV, Ranjitha M (2019) Cross-sectional study reveals a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among healthy school children in central Kerala, India. Int J Contemp Pediatr 6: 867-871.
8. Viswambharan V, Vasu MM, Thanseem I, Poovathinal SA, Anitha A (2019) Thyroid abnormalities among Down syndrome children from Kerala, India. Int J Contemp Pediatr 6: 904-905.
9. Poovathinal SA, Anitha A, Thomas R, Kaniamattam M, Melempatt N, Anilkumar A, Meena M (2018) Global prevalence of autism: A mini review. SF J Autism 2:1.
10. Thanseem I, Vijitha V, Poovathinal SA, Anitha A (2017) Is telomere length a biomarker of neurological disorders? Biomark Med 11: 799-810.
11. Poovathinal SA, Anitha A, Puliyappatta P, Viswambharan V, Thanseem I (2017) In Silico target identification of nootropic bioactive compounds from Ayurvedic herbs. Int J Ayurveda Pharma Res 5: 14-19.
12. Viswambharan V, Thanseem I, Vasu MM, Poovathinal SA, Anitha A (2017) miRNAs as biomarkers of neurodegenerative disorders. Biomark Med 11:151-167.
13. Vasu MM, Anitha A, Takahashi T, Thanseem I, Iwata K, Asakawa T, Suzuki K (2016) Fluoxetine increases the expression of miR-572 and miR-663a in human neuroblastoma cell lines. PLoS ONE 11: e0164425.
14. Poovathinal SA, Anitha A, Thomas R, Kaniamattam M, Melempatt N, Anilkumar A, Meena M (2016) Prevalence of autism spectrum disorders in a semi-urban community in south India. Annals Epidemiol 26:663-665.
15. Poovathinal S, Anitha A, Jayachandran N, Thanseem I (2015) Cognitive deficits and behavioral disorders in children: A comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to management. Annals Behav Sci 1:6.
Books/Book Chapter
1. Anitha A, Thanseem I, Vasu MM (2020) Centromere and telomere dynamics in humans. In D. A. Forero and G. P. Patrinos (Ed.), Genome Plasticity in Health and Disease. pp. 157-180. United States: Elsevier (Academic Press).
2. Anitha A (2020) Handbook of Genetic Diagnostics.
3. Vasu MM, Sumitha PS, Rahna P, Thanseem I, Anitha A (2019) microRNAs in autism spectrum disorders. In Current Pharamaceutical Design Volume 25 (41), pp. 4368-78. Unites Arab Emirates: Bentham Science Publishers.
4. Anitha A, Thanseem I, Vasu MM, Viswambharan V, Poovathinal SA (2019) Telomeres in neurological disorders. In G. S. Makowski (Ed.), Advances in Clinical Chemistry Volume 90, pp. 81-132. United States: Elsevier (Academic Press).
5. Anitha A, Thanseem I (2015) microRNA and autism. In G. Santulli (Ed.), microRNA: Medical Evidence. pp. 71-83. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing.
The Genetics Department welcomes candidates interested in short-term skill development/internship programs. The duration of the program is four weeks.
We guide M.Sc. projects also. The duration is 1-3 months
ICCONS is a recognised institution for availing the Aspire fellowships provided by the Dept. of Collegiate Education, Govt. of Kerala to M.Sc. students pursuing their dissertation projects
Contact Person: Dr. Anitha Ayyappan Pillai
Mob: 8589970421
Email: anitha.a72@gmail.com
Dr. Anitha Ayyappan Pillai, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Neurogenetics
ICCONS, Kavalappara, Shoranur, Palakkad - 679523
Kerala, India
Mobile: 8589970421
Office: 0466 2224869
Email: anitha.a72@gmail.com