Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of mortality in India. At inStem, we aim to understand the fundamental process of cardiovascular disease through developmental mechanisms with an integrated workflow that streamlines the dissection of the molecular basis and therapeutic targets of CVD in Indian populations. This includes (1) the Indian-specific gene discovery in CVD and generating patient-specific stem cell resources ;(2) pathophysiological and drug studies using stem cell lines and model organisms; (3) high-resolution structural biology and microscopy to study molecules and structures related to heart; (4) Cardiovascular developmental mechanisms; (5)Tools for matured cardiovascular cell-types derivations and single-molecule biophysical techniques to probe functions. Read More

Fundamental to the nature of human existence is the ability for a single stem cell to divide and differentiate into multiple cell types. This phenomenon is pivotal to the repair and regeneration of organs. However, despite all the advances in biology many fundamental questions about how these work remain unanswered. Our approach is to develop innovative chemical biology-based technologies, including small molecules, biomaterials, single cell analysis, and genomic tools for systematic modulation of stem cells (in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo) to investigate fundamental principles of tissue repair and regeneration, which enables to develop efficient therapeutics. Read more

Brain disorders are a global health challenge with the vast majority having no effective treatments. Despite obvious differences in their clinical presentation, many of these disorders appear to share molecular, cellular and circuit mechanisms. Our vision is to accelerate the discovery of these mechanisms and thus facilitate the delivery of effective therapeutics for these diseases.Read more

The fate of an individual cell is determined by its ability to perceive signals from its environment, and regulate internal programs (metabolic, proteostatic and transcriptional) that determine overall outcomes. One of the most exciting areas of research is therefore how does the metabolic state of a cell (as determined by nutrient environments as well as the available nutrient sensing machinery in a cell) drive eventual cell fates. This is especially important in the context of stem cells, which are ‘plastic’ and pushed towards different outcomes based on their metabolic states and signalling system activities. Read more

The Centre for Stem Cell Research (CSCR), a unit of the Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem), Bengaluru, has been established as a collaboration between inStem, the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India and the Christian Medical College, Vellore. CSCR is supported by the Department of Biotechnology of the Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India.Read more

Genetics is the pivot for all biology. As the fundamental understanding of genetics continues to grow, new discoveries hold important implications for human health, agriculture, livestock and for understanding and mitigating diseases. The Tata Institute of Genetics and Society-Centre at inStem (TIGS-CI) seeks to use the latest advances in genetics to address the most pertinent questions in biology, particularly those relevant for India today. Current efforts are focused on human health and agriculture and build capacity in genome-editing and analysis. These effort are avenues to exploit new technologies of gene editing and their use in health and disease that are of particular relevance to our country..Read more