The biochemical regulatory mechanisms occurring at neuronal synapses that underlie learning and memory as well as pathological conditions such as epilepsy are major subjects of interest in the Department of Neurobiology. A major area of focus is on the enzyme calcium /calmodulin dependent protein kinase II. Its interactions and their physiological relevance are being studied using enzyme kinetics, binding assays under in vitro and intracellular conditions and in vivo studies using animal models.

The department also has a stem cell biology program where studies investigate the possibility of generating inhibitory GABAergic circuits in hippocampus of rats with temporal lobe epilepsy by transplanting transgenic embryonic stem cells. Also being investigated is the role of notch signaling/Tlx3 mediated differentiation of hippocampal stem cells into excitatory neurons during temporal lobe epilepsy. Studies have also been initiated towards treatment of glaucoma using retinal ganglion cells generated from embryonic/cord blood stem cells.