Bhagyalakshmi Shankarappa

Dr Bhagyalakshmi Shankarappa is a Project Scientist in the Molecular Genetics Laboratory at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, where she leads and contributes to multidisciplinary research programs on the genetics and epigenetics of neuropsychiatric disorders. Her work focuses on understanding how genetic susceptibility and epigenetic regulation—particularly DNA methylation—interact with environmental exposures such as alcohol to influence mental illness. In addition to her research leadership, she plays an active role in mentoring clinical and research trainees, coordinating large-scale sample processing and molecular workflows, and contributing to genetic research and testing across a range of neurological disorders.