Biological systems resembles plethora of nanoscale structures to carry out demanding tasks of localized signal reception and transduction, membrane transport, gene expression and computation in the context of the cellular environment. From our understanding of cellular processes it appears that construction of these nano-architectures in active cellular environments are critical for all cell function. At NCBS we have an interactive research program that combines diverse groups interested in nanonmeter scale of organization in living cells. This program includes researches from diverse backgrounds ranging from cell and neuro-bilogy, protein structure and soft-condensed matter physics.
Technology Platform
NCBS is structured along the lines of understanding different scales of organization in biology from systems level neuroscience to the single molecule scale. This demands continuous augmentation of the infrastructure capabilities in terms of specific research equipment necessary for the study of the nano-scale in biology. It serves to exploit a common theme in the work of different researchers at NCBS. This resolves around the development of methodologies o observe nano-scale architecture and phenomena in living systems in real time to develop and deploy the methodologies required for visualization of sub-cellular and cellular processes at temporal and spatial resolution previously unachieved. Similarly, it is increasingly becoming imperative to analyze and sort/purify the cell/organelle populations of interest by high-speed flow cytometry to study the genomic, proteomic and functional aspects of such purified populations.
Training Programs
In India, there are limited opportunities to promote organized training and knowledge dissemination in the field of imaging. We do not believe in operator assisted imaging or flow cytometry facilities as it would not be practical for any operator/s to understand and develop interest in all of the research projects of an institution and sucessfully run those experiments in a given time frame. Therefore, we believe in training the individual researchers to operate microscopes and/or flow cytometers available in NCBS. To achieve this goal, we have started a state-of–the-art imaging and flow cytometry facility that will not only cater our institutional needs but also provide training to researchers coming from all over India and. abroad.