Department of Histopathology, PGIMER, Chandigarh has the legacy of carrying out medical autopsy for more than past 60 years. The department carries out perinatal, neonatal, pediatric as well as adult autopsies with various medical conditions. Till now more than 32000 autopsies have been carried out which include a wide spectrum of disease conditions.
The founding stone of neuropathology in PGI was laid by Dr. Ashru Kumar Banerjee. Dr. Banerjee was a pioneer of neuropathology in the country. He had vast experience in both neoplastic and non-neoplastic neuropathology. He started the brain-cutting sessions every Tuesday morning. His legacy was carried forward by the stalwarts like Dr. Rakesh Kumar Vasishtha and Dr. Bishan Radotra. Both were trained in neuropathology in the United Kingdom. Dr. Vasishtha introduced muscle pathology in PGI. Dr. Radotra was a doyen in the field of non-neoplastic neuropathology, including demyelination. They were very passionate about autopsy neuropathology. In PGIMER, every Monday and Wednesday clinico-pathological conference (CPC) takes place, where interesting autopsy findings are discussed with the clinicians. Many rare and unique cases of neuropathology have been presented in such sessions. Currently neuropathology service is managed by Dr. Kirti Gupta and Dr. Debajyoti Chatterjee.
Under the national brain bank initiative, Department of Histopathology, PGIMER also joined this project under the leadership of Dr. Radotra. Dr. Nandita Kakkar, the current head of the department is the current principal investigator of the project in PGI, and the project is being actively discharged under the supervision of Dr. Debajyoti Chatterjee. Both formalin fixed, and fresh brain tissue of different conditions including neuro infections, inflammation, tumors, systemic disease etc. has been included in the brain bank for research purposes.
- Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Stem cell biology
- Infections
- Molecular Biology
- Networking
- Free of freezing artefacts
- Teaching modules
- MRI imaging
- Codon mutations in cases of CJD in Indian population and detection of these mutations in familial cases.
- Serological diagnostic test for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. (Serological test for 14-3-3 has already been developed and offered as a diagnostic test)
- IMapping of resting stem cell pool in the human brain at different ages
- Response of resting stem cells following head injury and their reparative potential
- Identifying tumor stem cells in human brain tumors.
- The neuropathlogical evaluation of HIV dementia and its pathogenesis in the Indian context.
- Cytokine profile in neuroinfections, epilepsy and their influence on progression of the disease – (In progress)
- Proteomics/genomics of CNS infections to identify candidate biomarkers – (In progress)
- Establishment of registries and developing database of neuroinfections for policy planning.
- Initiate molecular genetic studies in various forms of inborn errors of metabolic enzymes and enzyme deficiencies in collaboration with other scientist and clinicians utilizing the banked blood samples (Can be deleted if not appropriate).
- Development of cDNA library in normal and neurodegenerative diseases.
- Development of a DNA bank as a research facility for genetically transmitted neurological diseases in collaboration with other laboratories. (Can be deleted if not suitable).
- Make efforts to enroll and develop Biobanks in the country by networking with likeminded medical colleagues and popularize autopsy service as a vital teaching activity for the medical students.
- Development of technology to retrieve brain tissue from frozen state for histological processing without freezing artefacts. Though the technology for such retrieval of cell lines is available, for small bits, from large slices of brain, it needs to be developed. This will facilitate the simultaneous pathomorphological and molecular biological studies in future from the stored material and correlate with MRI and molecular imaging in human brain.
- Developing museum and teaching sets to provide material to medical colleges for undergraduate and postgraduate training (on going)
- MRI imaging of human brain specimens collected at autopsy for Neuroanatomical and pathological correlation.
- Schwannoma
- Medulloblastoma
- Glioma
- Ependymoma
- Meningioma
- Embryonal tumors
- Infectious diseases
- We have a substantial collection of both normal and abnormal brain tissues.
- Neonatal and perinatal brains.
- Adult normal brain
- Neuroinfections (CNS tuberculosis, Rabies, pyogenic meningitis, fungal infections)
- Ischaemic and hemorrhagic stroke
- Metabolic disorders.
NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences)
A globally recognized leader in brain research, contributing cutting-edge expertise and resources to support our mission.
AIIMS Bhubaneswar (All India Institute of Medical Sciences)
Partnering with us to advance neurological research, AIIMS Bhubaneswar provides critical clinical insights and research collaboration.