Prof. Brahmachari has demonstrated the structural flexibility of DNA and the role of repetitive sequences in DNA transactions much before the discovery of repeats association with genetic disorders. His work on the structural flexibility of telomeric repeat sequences is one of his well cited contributions. He has made major contributions in molecular analysis of genetic disorders associated with trinucleotide amplification and repetitive sequence instability. Using a combination of structural biology, computational genomics and population based polymorphism scanning he and his group have provided a novel structural frame work for understanding the etiology of several neurological disorders. He was first to establish a close clinical network to address genetics of complex disordres and demonstrated association of two genes to Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder (synaptogyrin 1 and MLC1 gene) and identified several SNPs and other markers associated to various neurological disorders. Taking advantage of genetic diversity of Indian population and core expertise in structural biology and computation, he has pioneered functional genomics initiative in India and and led the Indian Genome Variation Consortium which developed a database of over 1000 genes related to disease and drug response, exploring human genome variation in multi-ethnic, multi-lingual populations of India to develop a national resource: the genetic profile of the people of India.

Prof. Brahmachari and coworkers have carried out extensive computational analysis of the repetitive sequences in the genome and were one of the first to propose functional role of such sequence. He and his associates have developed novel and unique tools for genome annotation and identification of functional signature for hypothetical proteins in the genome through comparative genomics approach. He and his group has developed novel software for genome analysis and identified several novel non-active site targets for bacterial pathogen under a national network project in In Silico Biology for drug target development led by him. He is also the first to market novel globally competitive Bioinformatics software products from CSIR. His group has also developed tools for System Biology Platform. Recent finding of Prof. Brahmachari and his associates that Human miRNA can target critical genes in HIV, thus preventing HIV proliferation has received wide international recognition. (Petit-Zeeman, S. Nature Rev. Drug Discovery, 2006, 5.5). His group has developed computational model for gene-gene interaction network for complex disorders like Schizophrenia.

Prof. Brahmachari has also been involved in issues relating to Human Genome research ethics and Human Rights. As a member of the steering committee of the International Human Rights Commission he has contributed to the formulation of the draft guidelines in terms of benefit sharing by the populations that are the part of the research endeavor as resources of genetic material and addressed issues of unethical exploitation of genetic resources of the Third world. His contribution in India in promoting genomics research through thrust area development in granting agencies, lectures, courses and human-resource training is very significant. Dr. Brahmachari has contributed significantly in promoting industry-academia interactions through novel program of knowledge partnerships in genomics and bioinformatics. >>More