Our Research Faculty

Dr HR Nagendra holds PhD in Mechanical Engineering from IISc, Bangalore. After receiving his doctorate in 1968, he served as faculty of IISc in Department of Mechanical Engineering. Then, he went to Canada as Post Doctoral Research Fellow in the University of British Columbia, Canada in 1970. From there, he moved to NASA Marshall Space Flight Centre, USA as Post-Doctoral Research Associate in 1971 and moved to Engineering Science Laboratory, Harvard University, USA as a Consultant in 1972. He served as Visiting Staff at Imperial College of Science and Technology, London later. In 1975, he joined Vivekananda Kendra, a service mission as a whole-time worker.  Director of Training Centre, Vivekanandapuram, Kanyakumari. Between 1975 and 1993, he served as the All India Secretary, Yoga Shiksha Vibhag, Vivekanand Kendra, Kanyakumari. He is the founder and President of Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Bengaluru.

As the Chancellor of Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, a Yoga University in Bengaluru, he guided the institution from 2013 to 2025. Presently, he is serving as the President of the S-VYASA society. He is also Chairman of Task force of AYUSH, Govt, of India, New Delhi. He has published 30 Research Papers in Engineering and more than 200 research papers on Yoga. He has authored and co-authored 40 books on Yoga. He has received several awards for his life time achievement in the field of yoga including Padma Shri award by Govt. of India in 2016.

Dr. Manjunatha has published more than 100 research papers in international journals indexed in major bibliographic databases. His primary research interests include

He has guided numerous Ph.D., M.D., and M.Sc. students and serves as the Editor of the International Journal of Yoga (IJOY) and as a reviewer for several international journals.

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY:

Microarray hybridization and data analysis, DNA Foot-printing (DNase and potassium   permanganate), in vitro transcription assays & primer extension, Southern and Northern   blotting, High resolution chloroquine gels for DNA topology, RT-PCR, Transformation and   transfection, Primer design, Cloning and other commonly used molecular biology   techniques

PROTEOMICS:

Protein purification using affinity, ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography, Protein   crystallization, Biomolecular interaction using Fluorescence polarization, Biacore and   Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), SDS-PAGE, Native PAGE, Isoelectric focusing and 2D   electrophoresis, Western blot, ELISA

ENZYMOLOGY:

Enzyme reconstitution, Fluorescent enzyme assays using micro-titer plate and stopped   flow apparatus, Kinetic analysis for determining catalytic efficiency (Kcat/Km), Dissociation   constant (Kd), Kobs and other kinetic parameters.

CULTURE AND OTHER TECHNIQUES:

Bacterial culture, Drosophila S2 cell culture & Plant tissue culture, Fly genetics, UV  fluorescent microscope, IR and Atomic emission spectroscopy

SOFTWARE:

Microarray image & data analysis software - Genespring, TM4, ANOVA (Jackson’s lab),   Cluster & SCANALYZE (Eisen lab), SAM (significance analysis of microarrays) and several   other online tools, Database (Microsoft Access), Software for enzyme kinetics like DELA,   PRISM & KGraph, Software for primer design, plasmid construction & manipulation and   sequence alignment and analysis software.

Over the years of her research experience in NIMHANS, she has developed a deep understanding of basic and clinical neuroscience research aspects. Dr. Majumdar has attained expertise as a researcher in molecular biology, gene expression studies, and mammalian cell culture techniques. She has contributed significantly to the dissection of genetic aetiology of the most prevalent cardiovascular diseases and risk factors like Type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and ischemic stroke in the South Indian population. As a project investigator, she has received several grants from the government of India under various schemes, like DBT-Bio CARE, DST SATYAM, and DST-CSRI. Dr. Majumdar’s research has been published in numerous international journals of merit, including publications.

Dr. Majumdar has presented her work at international levels orally as well. She has been a reviewer for several prestigious publishing groups, like Nature, BMJ, BMC, Taylor and Francis, and Sage. She is also the guest associate and review editor for the Frontiers group of publications. Dr Majumdar’s primary research interest lies in establishing the role of Yoga in the human system’s biology concerning the process of ageing. Dr. Majumdar is interested in research in clinical geroscience; she has been working on “Healthy Aging” and biological ageing”. In an ongoing project funded by DST-SATYAM (DST/SATYAM/2020/310), her lab is exploring the effectiveness of yoga for biological age phenotypes using an array of ageing hallmarks. The outcomes of her research lab have been published in ageing-related journals including, BMC Geriatrics, and Geroscience. Dr. Majumdar is also working on genetic associations entailing cognitive sub phenotypes in schizophrenia, and has recently completed a project on the genetic association between Klotho and cognitive phenotypes in schizophrenia.

Present Research projects:

Research Guidance: Presently guiding 6 PhD scholars

Research projects done:

Research project on ‘Effect of Yoga on oxidative DNA damage and repair in Type-2-Diabetes patients’ was conducted. In this randomized clinical trial involving 10 weeks of yoga intervention for T2D patients compared to a control group with routine exercises, Yoga group showed a significant reduction in DNA damage, consistent improvement observed in causative parameters like blood sugar, lipid levels, and oxidative DNA damage (8-OHdG) observed in the Yoga group, though the improvement observed in the antioxidant status (TAC) was not significant. Improvements in biochemical and anthropometric measures in the Yoga group compared to the Control

Present Research project(s):

Molecular basis of the effect of yoga on chronic kidney disease

Objectives:

Research Guidance:

Research projects done:

Role of yoga and its mechanism involved in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus related DNA damage and repair - A RCT

Objectives:

Major findings:

DNA damage found to be reduced by 16% the group that practiced yoga. Mediation analysis indicated that changes in oxidative DNA damage and DNA repair together played a mediatory role (97.5%) in carrying the effect of yoga, towards which, individually they contributed (70.9%) and (26.6%) respectively.

Implication of Research findings:

Yoga practices can conserve genomic integrity by limiting oxidative stress induced DNA damages and enhancing DNA damage response mechanism in T2D patients, thereby ameliorating related complications and hence can be considered as a potential adjuvant therapeutic approach for T2D management.

other relevant info

  Is NAD+-SIRT1 Axis a key regulator for DNA Repair and metabolic regulation following Yoga?

Objectives -

Research Guidance

Presently supervising and guiding Ph.D (5), M.Sc (4) students.

Research projects done

Identification, characterization, and quantification of glutathionylated proteins in cerebrospinal fluid using mass spectrometric-based proteomics in patients with multiple sclerosis. (Published in Anal Biochem 2019 Jan 1;564-565:108-115. ISSN No. - 0003-269).

Major findings: Eight glutathionylated proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients were identified during relapse, with specific cysteine residues modified. Using a nano-LC/ESI-MS and modified proteomics approach, residue-specific characterization of S-glutathionylation was performed. Key proteins, including ECSOD, A1AT, and PLTP, were found to be glutathionylated at functionally important cysteine residues, suggesting a potential impact on their roles in MS pathology and highlighting oxidative stress as a key factor in disease progression.

Implication of the Research findings - These research findings could lead to the development of novel biomarkers for diagnosing and monitoring MS, as well as uncover potential therapeutic targets to mitigate oxidative damage and neuro-inflammation

Assessment of Cysteine Reactivity of Human Hemoglobin at Its Residue Level. (Published in Hemoglobin. 2017 6:1-6. doi: 10.1080/03630269.2017.1399905. ISSN No. - 1532-432X).

Major findings: It was found that cysteine residues in human hemoglobin exhibit varying reactivities based on their surface accessibility in the protein\\\'s structure. Using MALDI mass spectrometry, the residue-specific insights into cysteine alkylation kinetics was provided, surpassing the limitations of traditional methods

Implication of the Research findings - The approach is effective for analysing both normal and sickle cell haemoglobin, showcasing its utility in studying haemoglobin variants and their biochemical properties./p>

Ferric pyrophosphate nanoparticles: Feasibility, bioavailability, and toxicity assessments. (Published in RSC Advances 2015, 5: 61678-61687. ISSN No. - 2046-2069).

Major findings:The study evaluated the feasibility, bioavailability, and toxicity of ferric pyrophosphate nanoparticles, using proteomic profiling of rat plasma to identify potential toxicity biomarkers. The analysis revealed changes in specific plasma proteins linked to oxidative stress, inflammation, and metabolic regulation, providing insights into the nanoparticle\\\'s safety profile.

Implication of the Research findings - The research findings contribute to understanding the biological impact of ferric pyrophosphate nanoparticles and their potential applications in medical and nutritional fields.

Research Guidance:

Research projects completed and major findings:

Evaluation of Effect of Structured Yoga Intervention on Neurocognitive and Stress Markers in Patients with Anxiety and Depression

Funded by the DST-SATYAM (Department of Science and Technology under the SATYAM program), this project examined the therapeutic effects of a structured yoga protocol on neurocognitive function and stress markers among patients diagnosed with anxiety and depression. Key findings highlighted a significant improvement in both neurocognitive performance and reductions in stress markers, supporting yoga as an effective complementary therapy for mental health conditions.

Validation of an E-Module of Yoga Protocol for Patients with Anxiety and Depression

Another DST-SATYAM funded project, this study aimed to validate the effectiveness of a digital yoga module tailored for individuals with anxiety and depression. The results demonstrated the efficacy of the e-module in alleviating anxiety and depressive symptoms, validating its potential as a scalable intervention for broader accessibility and mental health support.

Levels of Stress, Anxiety, and Sleep Quality among Medical Students due to COVID-19 and Its effects on Learning Behaviour

This research focused on assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical students\' mental health, particularly their stress, anxiety, and sleep quality. Findings revealed elevated stress and anxiety levels, along with impaired sleep quality, which collectively impacted learning behaviour and academic performance. The study underscored the need for targeted mental health support for medical students during crises.

Assessment of Stress Level, Sleep Quality and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) in Individuals with Symptoms of Depression

This project investigated the relationship between stress levels, sleep quality, and autonomic function, as measured by HRV, in individuals exhibiting symptoms of depression. The findings indicated that higher stress and poorer sleep quality were associated with decreased HRV, suggesting reduced autonomic regulation in depressive individuals. These results highlighted HRV as a useful biomarker for assessing autonomic dysfunction in depression.

Development and Validation of Yoga Protocol for Patients with Depression

Dhamodhini KS, Maheshkumar K, Silambanan S, Kantipudi SJ, Sathianathan R, Padmavathi R. Annals of Neurosciences. 2023 Apr; 30(2):96-9. Published in a Scopus and PubMed-indexed journal with an impact factor of 2.3, this paper presents the development and validation of an E-yoga protocol tailored for patients with depression. The study contributes to evidence-based approaches in integrative mental health care.

Role of Yoga in Stress Management and Implications in Major Depressive Disorder

Padmavathi R, Kumar AP, Dhamodhini KS, Venugopal V, Silambanan S, Maheshkumar K, Shah P. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. 2023 Sep 1; 14(5):100767. Indexed in Scopus and PubMed with an impact factor of 2.4, this paper explores yoga’s role in stress management, specifically its therapeutic implications for individuals with major depressive disorder, underscoring the physiological and psychological benefits of yoga practices.

Letter to the Editor: Need for E-Module Based Validated Yoga Protocol

Dhamodhini KS, Maheshkumar K, Kantipudi SJ, Sathianathan R, Silambanan S, Padmavathi R. Annals of Neurosciences. 2023. This letter, published in Annals of Neurosciences (Impact factor: 2.3, indexed in Scopus and PubMed), discusses the importance of a validated, e-module-based yoga protocol, highlighting the potential for digital health solutions in yoga therapy.

Comparison of Arterial Stiffness among Prehypertensive and Normotensive Subjects Using Photo Pulse Plethysmography: A Pilot Study

Jeyashree, Dilara K, Maruthi K, Dhamodhini KS. Journal of Clinical & Diagnostic Research. 2024 Mar 1; 18(3). This pilot study, published in a Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science-indexed journal with an impact factor of 1.148, investigates arterial stiffness in prehypertensive versus normotensive individuals using photo pulse plethysmography, providing insights into cardiovascular health markers.

Present Research project: JIVA WATER PROJECT

Study title: To understand the modulations in Biochemical parameters due to JIVA water on Healthy Individuals.

Objectives:

Awards received :UGC-NET JRF

Dr. Kanthi\\\\\\\'s work reflects a commitment to advancing evidence-based research in yoga, contributing to a deeper understanding of its transformative potential on the human mind and body.

Present Research project(s):

Research projects done:

Present Research project(s):

Influence of yoga intervention on emerging risk markers of dyslipidaemia and cardiovascular health.

Research projects done:

The possible specific benefit for prebiotic GOS includes developing a synbiotic product which is a combination of both probiotics and prebiotics. The beneficial properties of prebiotics and probiotics offer a new dimension for the development of functional foods. Prebiotics are substances that can promote the growth of beneficial microorganisms, mainly in the intestinal tract and will modify the colonic microbiota. The health benefits attributed to prebiotics includes relief from poor digestion of lactose, multidrug resistance, increased resistance to bacterial infection, better immune response and possible protection against cancer, reduction of the risk of diseases such as intestinal disease, cardiovascular disease, non-insulin dependent diabetes, obesity and osteoporosis.

Present Research project:

Research projects done:

Present Research project(s):

Research projects done:

Present Research project:

Research projects done: