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Faculty

Dr. Sunil Kumar

Associate Professor

Amity Institute of Neuropsychology & Neurosciences

Molecular Neurobiology and Biotechnology
Amity Institute of Neuropsychology and Neurosciences (AINN)

Room No. 214C, J1 Block, Amity University, Sector-125, Noida-201313

Teaching:7
Research:17
Principles of Neurosciences
Functional Neuroanatomy
Advance Techniques in Neurosciences
Fundamentals of Neuropharmacology
Molecular Biology and Gene Regulation
Basics Concepts of Neuroendocrinology
Advances in Neuroscience Research
Neurophysiology
Neurological and neuropsychiatric illnesses continue to be an ongoing challenge for the researchers and clinicians. It is becoming more evident day by day that we need to go beyond boundaries of traditional disciplinary approaches of neurobiological and psychological research. To address these issues, our lab is primarily involved in understanding the brain functions using animal models of affective and neurological disorders (Depression, Autism-spectrum Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety-like Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Schizophrenia, Alzheimer, and Parkinson's Disease). We use multidisciplinary approaches of electrophysiology, neurophysiology, neuroimmunology, molecular neuroscience, neurochemistry and neuropharmacology to discover the neural correlates of brain disorders and functional mechanisms underlying these devastating neuropsychological conditions. Previously we have identified and confirmed that repeated chronic stress can cause long-lasting depression-like behavior in animals which can be reversed using typical or atypical antidepressants. These research findings raise the hypothesis that neural circuit changes underlie stress regulatory deficit in chronic stress and pharmacological-induced stress models of psycho-affective disorders. Direct quantification of the neurophysiological activity across neural networks that corresponds with different brain functions can provide useful insight about the risk of neurological and psychiatric illnesses. We hope that our research will enhance our understanding of the neural circuit dynamics and provide an insight about the neurophysiological and molecular underpinnings of neural network involved in regulation of neuro-psycho-pathological disorders and brain functions.
Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, Electrophysiology, Neuroimmunology, Neuropharmacology, Molecular Biology, Pharmacogenomics, Optogenetics, Neuroendocrinology
Indian Academy of Neurosciences
Society for Neurochemistry, India
Society for Biological Psychiatry
Society for Neurosciences
American Association of Psychiatry
IQAC Coordinator
NTCC Coordinator of MSc
Center Superintendent AINN
Library In-charge AINN
Member of Course review committee and Area Advisory Board
Member of Student Research Committee and Doctoral Research Committee
Examination Moderation Board Member
Reviewer for Journal of Neuroscience Methods, Biological Psychiatry, The Journal of Neuroscience, Aquaculture, Aquaculture Nutrition etc.
.1. Peter Nicholls, Thomas Pack, Nikhil Urs, Sunil Kumar, Yang Zhou, Gabriel Ichim, Gabor Turu, Evan Calabrese, Wendy Roberts, Ping Fan, ValeriyOstapchenko, Monica Guzman, Flavio Beraldo, Vania Prado, Marco Prado, Ivan Spasojevic, Joshua Snyder, Kafui Dzirasa, G. Johnson, and Marc Caron. "Measuring nonapoptotic caspase activity with a transgenic reporter in mice". eNeuro 8 September 2022, ENEURO.0147-21.2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0147-21.2022 (Citation -4, Impact Facror-4.363), eISSN: 2373-2822

2. Jaaro-Peled, H*., Kumar, S*., Hughes, D. et al. Regulation of sensorimotor gating via Disc1/Huntingtin-mediated Bdnf transport in the cortico-striatal circuit. Mol Psychiatry 27, 1805–1815 (2022). *equally contributed first author. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-021-01389-3 (Citations – 1, Impact Factor -13.44). ISSN: 1359-4184.

3. Carlson D., David L.K., Gallagher N.M., Vu M.-A.T., Shirley M., Hultman R., Wang J., BurrusC., McClung C.A., Kumar S., Carin L., Mague S.D. & Dzirasa K., Dynamically timed stimulation of corticolimbic circuitry activates a stress-compensatory pathway, Biological Psychiatry (2017), doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.06.008 (Citations – 25, Impact Factor -13.38). ISSN 0006-3223

4. Hultman, R.., Mague, S.D., Li, Q., Katz, BM.., Michel, N., Lin, L., Wang, J., David, L. K., Blount,C., Chandy, R., Carlson, D., Ulrich, K., Carin, L., Dunson, D., Kumar. S., Deisseroth, K., Moore,S. D., and Dzirasa, K. 2016. Dysregulation of prefrontal cortex mediated slow evolving limbicdynamics drives stress-induced emotional pathology. Neuron 91, 1-14 (Citations – 89, Impact Factor -18.69) ISSN 0896-6273

5. Ade, KK., Wan, Y., Hamann, HC., O’Hare, JK., Guo, W., Quian, A., Kumar, S., Bhagat, S.,Rodriguiz, RM., Wetsel, WC., Conn, PJ., Dzirasa, K., Huber, KM. and Calakos, N. 2016. Increased mGluR5 signaling underlies OCD-like behavioral and striatal circuit abnormalities inmice. Biological Psychiatry 80(7):522-533 (Citations – 60, Impact Factor -13.38). ISSN 0006-3223

6. Wang, Z., Bey, AL., Katz, BM., Badea, A., Kim, N., David, L., Duffney, LJ., Kumar, S., Mague,SD., Hulbert, SW., Dutta, N., Harapetyan, V., Yu, C., Gaidis, E., Zhao, S., Ding, J., Xu, Q., Chung,L., Rodriguiz, RM., Wang, F., Weinberg, RJ., Wetsel, WC., Dzirasa, K., Yin, H., Jiang, YH. 2016.Altered mGluR5-Homer Scaffolds and Neural Connectivity in aShank3 Complete KnockoutModel of Autism. NatureCommunications 10;7:11459. doi: 10.1038/ncomms11459 (Citations – 216, Impact Factor -17.69). ISSN 2041-1723

7. Sidor, MM., Spencer, SM., Dzirasa, K., Parekh, PK., Tye, KM., Warden, MR., Arey, RN.,Enwright, JF III., Jacobsen JPR., Kumar, S., Remillard, EM., Caron, MG., Deisseroth, K., andMcClung., CA. 2014. Daytime spikes in dopaminergic activity drive rapid moodcycling in mice. Molecular Psychiatry, 2015 (5) 1 -14 (Citations – 100, Impact Factor -13.44). ISSN: 1359-4184.

8. Kumar, S., Hultman, R., Hughes, D., Michel, N., Katz, BM. and Dzirasa, K. 2014. Prefrontalcortex reactivity underlies trait vulnerability to chronic social defeat stress. Nature Communications 5:4537 doi: 10.1038/ncomms5537 (Citations – 103, Impact Factor -17.69), Story about this article published in US Today newspaper. ISSN: 2041-1723.

9. Dzirasa, K., Kumar, S., Sachs, B., Caron, MG. and Nicolelis, MAL. 2013. Cortical-amygdalarcircuit dysfunction in a genetic mouse model of serotonin deficiency. J. Neuroscience. 6 March2013, 33(10):4505-4513 (Citations – 34, Impact Factor -6.709)

10. Kumar, S., Black, SJ., Hultman, R., Szabo, ST., DeMaio, KD., Du, J., Katz, BM., Feng, G.,CovingtonIII, HE., Dzirasa, K. 2013. Cortical control of affective networks. J. Neuroscience33(3): 1116-29 (Citations – 93, Impact Factor -6.709).

11. Dzirasa, K., Mcgrarity, D., Bhattacharya, A., Kumar, S., Takahashi, JS., Dunson, D., McClung,CA. and Nicolelis, MAL. 2011. Impaired limbic gamma oscillatory synchrony during anxietyrelated behavior in a genetic mouse model of bipolar mania. J. Neuroscience 31(17) 6449-56 (Citations – 41, Impact Factor -6.709).

12. Dzirasa, K., Fuentes, R., Kumar, S., Potes, JM., Nicolelis, MAL. 2011. Chronic in vivo multicircuit neurophysiological recordings in mice. J. Neurosci. Methods 95(1):36-46 (Citations – 51, Impact Factor -2.785).

13. Dzirasa,K., Coque, L., Sidor, MM., Kumar, S., Dancy, EA., Takahashi, JS., McClung, CA. andNicolelis, MAL. 2010. Lithium Ameliorates Nucleus Accumbens Phase-Signaling Dysfunctionin a Genetic Mouse Model of Mania. J. Neuroscience 30(48): 16314-16323 (Citations – 79, Impact Factor -6.709).

14. Dzirasa,K., Phillips, W., Sotnikova, TD., Salahpour, A., Kumar, S., Gainetdinov, R., Caron, MG.and Nicolelis, MAL. 2010. Noradrenergic control of cortico-striato-thalamic and mesolimbiccross-structural synchrony. J. Neuroscience. 30(18) 6387-6397 (Citations – 40, Impact Factor -6.709).Print ISSN: 0270-6474, Online ISSN: 1529-2401

15. Sharma, J.G., Rao, Y. V., Kumar, S. and Chakrabarti, R. 2010. Impact of UV-B radiation ondigestive enzymes and immune system of larvae of Indian major carp Catlacatla. Int. J. Rad.Biol. 86, 3: 181-186 (Citations – 27, Impact Factor -2.368). (ISSN 0955-3002)

16. Kumar, S., Garcia-Carreno, F. L., Chakrabarti, R., Navarrete del Toro, M. A. and Cordova-Murueta, J. H. 2007. Digestive proteases of three carps Catlacatla, Labeorohita, andHypophthalmicthys molitrix: partial characterization and protein hydrolysis efficiency. Aqua.Nutrition. 13: 381-388. (Blackwell Publishing Ltd, UK) (Citations – 73, Impact Factor -3.69).ISSN: 1365-2095

17. Kumar, S., Sharma, J. G and Chakrabarti, R. 2007. Acute toxicity of ammonia to Labeobatalarvae. Toxicol. Environ. Chem. 89(2): 327-336. (Tayor and Francis Publication, Germany)(Citations – 4, Impact Factor -1.39) ISSN 0277-2248, 1029-0486.

18. Chakrabarti, R., Rathore, R. M., Mittal, P. and Kumar, S. 2006. Functional changes in digestiveenzymes and characterization of proteases of silver carp(?)and bighead carp(?)hybrid, duringearly ontogeny. Aquaculture 253: 694-702. (Elsevier Publication, USA) (Citations – 55, Impact Factor -4.67).

19. Chakrabarti, R., Rathore, R. M. and Kumar, S. 2006. Study of digestive enzyme activities andpartial characterization of digestive proteases in a freshwater teleosts, Labeorohitalarvae duringearly ontogeny. Aqua. Nutrition 12:35-43. (Blackwell Publishing Ltd, UK) (Citations – 47, Impact Factor -3.69). ISSN: 1365-2095

20. Rathore, R. M., Kumar, S. and Chakrabarti. R. 2005. Digestive enzyme patterns and evaluationof protease classes in Catlacatla(Family: Cyprinidae) during early developmental stages. Comp.Biochem. Physiol. B 142/1:98-106. (Elsevier Publication, USA) (Citations – 56, Impact Factor -2.231). ISSN: 1096-4959

21. Rathore, R. M., Kumar, S. and Chakrabarti, R. 2005. Digestive enzyme profile of Cyprinuscarpioduring ontogenic development. World Aquaculture 36:37-41 (World AquacultureSociety, USA) Citations – 12

22. Kumar, S., Srivastava, A. and Chakrabarti, R. 2005. Study of digestive proteinases and proteinaseinhibitors of Daphnia carinata. Aquaculture 243: 367-372. (Elsevier Publication, USA).(Citations – 44, Impact Factor -4.67). (ISSN: 0044-8486)

23. Sharma, JG., Kumar S and Chakrabarti, R. 2004. Optimization of stocking density of Labeorohitaand Cirrhinusmrigalaspawn in relation to water quality, survival and growth underrecirculating system. Ind. J. Animal Sci. 74 (6): 686-689. (ICAR Publication, India). (Citations – 3, Impact Factor -0.33). (ISSN: 0367-8318)

24. Chakrabarti, R. and Kumar, S. 2001. Effect of feed protein manipulation on the survival, growthand enzyme activities of Cirrhinusmrigalalarvae. In: Larvi2001, Fish and Shellfish LarvicultureSymposium. Hendry. C. I., Stappen, G. V., Wille, M. and Sorgeloos, P. (eds.). EuropeanAquaculture Society, Special Publication No.30. Belgium, pp. 129- 132. (0774-0689).

25. Chakrabarti, R., Sharma, JG. andKumar, S. 2001. Carp larviculture: a review. In: Captivebreeding for aquaculture and fish germplasm conservation. NBFGR-NATP publication No.3,pp. 1-4 (C 32).

26. Kumar, S., Sharma, JG. andChakrabarti, R. 2000. Quantitative estimation of proteolytic enzymeand ultrastructure study of anterior part of intestine of Indian major carp (Catlacatla) larvaeduring ontogenesis. Current Science, 79(7): 1007-1011. (Current Science Association, NationalAcademy of Science, India). (Citations – 34, Impact Factor -1.102). ISSN: 0011-3891.

27. Kumar, S. and Chakrabarti, R. 1998. Ontogenic development of amylase activity in three speciesof Indian major carps, Catlacatla, Labeorohitaand Cirrhinusmrigalain relation to natural diet.Asian Fish. Sci., 10: 259-263. (Asian Fisheries society, Philippines). (Citations – 22, Impact Factor -0.55) (ISSN: 0116-6514).
Amity Institute of Neuropsychology and Neurosciences (AINN)
Room No. 214C, J1 Block, Amity University, Sector-125, Noida-201313