Department of Physiology at Kshema

Department of Physiology

The Department of Physiology provides comprehensive teaching, training, and research in alignment with the National Medical Commission (NMC) Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) curriculum. It caters to undergraduate students of MBBS, BDS, Physiotherapy, Nursing, and Allied Health Sciences programs, including Biomedical Sciences, Medical Laboratory Technology, Medical Imaging Technology, Anesthesia& Operation Theatre Technology, Renal Dialysis Technology, and Radiation Therapy Technology. The department also offers MD (Physiology) and Ph.D. programs.

The department is well-equipped with modern infrastructure to support competency-based training. It houses specialized laboratories including Clinical Physiology, Hematology, Human Physiology, Amphibian and Mammalian Physiology, and a dedicated Research Laboratory. The Clinical Physiology Laboratory plays a pivotal role in implementing the CBME curriculum by providing a structured, skills-oriented environment for early clinical training. It facilitates the acquisition of core clinical competencies through hands-on sessions in basic clinical examination, including general physical examination, vital signs assessment, and systemic examination. These sessions are aligned with defined competencies, enabling students to integrate physiological principles with clinical application from the early phases of training.

The Hematology Laboratory provides hands-on training in various hematological tests. The Human Physiology Laboratory is equipped with 10 digital data-acquisition systems for conducting pulmonary function tests, autonomic function tests, muscle fatigue studies, and neurophysiological studies. The Clinical Physiology Laboratory facilitates training in basic clinical examination skills and Basic Life Support (BLS). At the same time, Amphibian and Mammalian laboratories support both conventional and simulation-based experiments in accordance with ethical standards.

In addition, the department offers a robust teaching-learning environment with demonstration rooms, a seminar hall, and a departmental library. Teaching methodologies are aligned with CBME and include Small Group Discussions, Early Clinical Exposure, Simulation-based learning, and Self-Directed Learning supported by an e-learning platform. The training is reinforced through skill stations, checklists, and Objective Structured Practical Examination (OSPE) formats, ensuring competency attainment, documentation in logbooks, and readiness for real-life clinical scenarios, as mandated by the NMC CBME guidelines. Assessment methods include formative and summative evaluations, OSPE, and competency-based logbook tracking.

The department is actively engaged in research, encouraging undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral scholars to undertake innovative studies. The department emphasizes research aligned with current health priorities, with focus areas including cardiorespiratory physiology, neurophysiology, exercise physiology, autonomic function, and clinical physiology, as well as emerging domains relevant to lifestyle disorders and aging. The department actively promotes publications in indexed journals, presentations at national and international conferences, and participation in funded research initiatives. Overall, the department fosters academic excellence and advances research in the physiological sciences.

For any information regarding the admissions,mail us at: info@nitte.edu.in

Tutor

Autonomic Neurosciences
Biological Ageing
Psychophysiology
Medical Education
Cognitive function Studies

The Department of Physiology at KSHEMA is a vibrant hub for research, with key thrust areas in Exercise physiology, Evoked potentials, Muscle physiology, Neurophysiology, Cardiovascular Autonomic function, Pulmonary Function and Medical Education. It is supported by advanced laboratory infrastructure, including a multi-channel digital data acquisition system that enables detailed neurophysiological assessments such as EEG, EMG, Nerve Conduction Studies, Evoked potentials, and Cardiovascular autonomic function testing. The department also provides specialized facilities for psychophysiological research, including electrodermal activity/sympathetic skin response recording and stimulus presentation systems. Additional equipment for exercise and muscle physiology assessments further strengthens its research capabilities. Through active collaboration with clinical departments, the department promotes translational research. With ongoing intramural and extramural funded projects and publications in indexed journals, it continues to make significant contributions to research.

List of related Research Projects (In last Five years)

Ongoing Research projects

Sl.No	Title of the Project	Funding agency
1	A novel dietary approach for foetal programming of major chronic disorders in adult life using albino wistar rats- a prospective case control study.	ICMR-Adhoc
2	Evaluation of Cardio-Metabolic Risk Factors in Relation to Serum Vitamin D Levels: A Cross-Sectional Study	Nitte University
3	Perinatal stress and dietary modulation on gut microbiota and their impact on cardio metabolic outcomes in Albino Wistar rats.	Nitte University

Completed Research projects in the Department

Sl.No	Title of the Project	Funding agency
1	Electrophysiological and Biochemical Indicators in Autism spectrum Disorders	ICMR-DHR
2	Correlation of salivary bio-markers with anthropometric indices for screening cardio metabolic risk in professional under graduates	Nitte University
3	Perinatal programming of adult health-an observational study	Nitte University

Number of Student short term projects funded by ICMR in last five years-11

Ph.D. Program

1. Number of Ph.D. awarded -03

2. Number of students pursuing Ph.D. - 05

Achievements

Dr. Damodara Gowda obtained in depth training on molecular techniques at Dr. Zhou’s lab, COP, University of Florida, USA
Dr. Damodara Gowda received best Research Paper Award, Nitte (Deemed to be University), 2019
Dr. Damodara Gowda received Best Paper Award, International Conference on Radiation Biology, 2018
Dr. Damodara Gowda, presented research paper entitled “Role of Maternal Astaxanthin Supplementation on Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Spatial Learning Behavior in Wistar Rat Offspring’s” in the international conference conducted by the Malaysian Society of Pharmacology and Physiology at University Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu, between Aug 18-19th 2017
Dr. Shailaja Moodithaya Awarded partial travel grant for the participation of 15th Australasian Menopause Society Congress at Brisbane, Australia, held on 9th to 11th 2011
Dr. Shailaja Moodithaya Awarded Observership at Sensory Integration Lab, College of Health Professions Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA
Dr. Harsha H N Presented a paper entitled “A language-independent fMRI paradigm of prospective memory activates the bilateral rostral prefrontal cortices in healthy subjects” at the Annual Meeting of Society for Neuroscience – 2010 held between 13th Nov to 17th Nov at San Diego, USA. Paper was selected for the SfN Graduate Travel Award for the year 2010

Dr. ASHWINI

Designation Professor & Head
Email prasadsahwini2@nitte.edu.in
Joining date

MBBS, MD

Women health research Psychological stress research

Publications:

Neetha Shastry, Ashwini, Namratha Shetty, Amrit M Mirajkar Cardiac Vagal Tone and Anthropometric Parameters in Healthy Young Adults- Can Altered Cardiac Vagal Tone Predict Development of Obesity?. Journal of Medical Science and Clinical Research 2017;5(7); 24967-72
Ashwini Kishan, Shailaja S Moodithaya, Amrit M Mirajkar Evaluation of association between psychological stress level during the menopausal transition period and serum estrogen level among middle-aged women: A cross-sectional study. National Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology 2017;7(10)
Ashwini, Nikitha M, Shailaja S Moodithaya, A M Mirajkar. Electrodermal response to Auditory stimuli in relation to menopausal transition period. J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol 2018; 29(2): 123-129
Ashwini, Neetha Shastry, Shailaja S Moodithaya, Amrit M Mirajkar, Prasanna Kumar Shetty, Diminished Vagal Tone and Enhanced Sympathetic Drive During Third Trimester of Gestation Among Healthy Women - A Cross Sectional Study. Indian J Physiology and Pharmacology 2018; 62(3):407-12
Ashwini, Moodithaya S, Shetty PK, Mirajkar AM. Impact of maternal anthropometric parameters, physical activity level, and psychological stress on cardiac autonomic activity during the third trimester of pregnancy. Research J of Pharma Biol and Chem Sciences 2020; 11(4):73-82.

Conferences:

Presented a research paper entitled "Evaluation of association of Maternal Perceived stress level with autonomic and biochemical markers of stress" in 5th Annual National Conference of Association of Physiologists of India, organized by Department of Physiology, Pramukhswami Medical college, Karamsad, Gujarat held on 27th to 29th September 2018
Presented a research paper entitled "Evaluation of association of Maternal Prenatal Cardiac Autonomic Nervous function with Postnatal Psychological Stress Level" in 63rd Annual National Conference of Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India, Organized by Department of Physiology, JIPMER, Puducherry held on 12th to 14th October 2017

Physiology

Association of Maternal Psychological Stress with changes in Insulin Resistance during Antenatal and Postnatal period (self-funded)rnInvestigators: Dr Ashwini, Dr Shailaja S Moodithaya, Dr Prasanna Kumar Shetty
The attitude, Compliance of preventive measures and psychological implications of evolving risk of coronavirus disease 2019 among elderly population (Nitte University)rnInvestigators: Dr Pooja Nayak, Dr Ashwini
Association between Hemoglobin status and Blood Pressure Responses to Isometric Handgrip Test among young females (ICMR-STS-2018)rn
Influence of dietary fiber consumption on the severity of premenstrual symptoms, primary dysmenorrhoea among young adults - A cross sectional study (ICMR-STS-2017)

Dr. HARSHA H.N.

Designation Professor
Email harsha@nitte.edu.in
Joining date

John, J. P., Parekh, P., Halahalli, H. N., Menon, S., & Kutty, B. M. (2017). Auditory Verbal Hallucinations in Schizophrenia: A Model for Aberrant Self-consciousness. In Self, Culture and Consciousness (pp. 123-149). Springer, Singapore
Shastry, N., Mirajkar, A. M., Moodithaya, S. S., & Halahalli, H. N. (2017). Resting heart rate variability and cardiorespiratory fitness in healthy young adults. Indian Journal of Medical Specialities, 8(1), 17-20
Halahalli, H. N., John, J. P., Lukose, A., Jain, S., & Kutty, B. M. (2015). Endogenous-cue prospective memory involving incremental updating of working memory: an fMRI study. Brain Structure and Function, 220(6), 3611-3626
Vijayakumari, A. A., John, J. P., Halahalli, H. N., Paul, P., Thirunavukkarasu, P., Purushottam, M., & Jain, S. (2015). Effect of polymorphisms of three genes mediating monoamine signaling on brain morphometry in schizophrenia and healthy subjects. Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience, 13(1), 68
Shakeel, M. K., Halahalli, H. N., Kumar, K., Jain, S., & John, J. P. (2014). Utility of a computerized, paced semantic verbal fluency paradigm in differentiating schizophrenia and healthy subjects. Asian journal of psychiatry, 7, 22-27.

Physiology

Director, Curriculum Development, NitteDU; IQAC Coordinator, NitteDU

Dr.(Mrs.) SHAILAJA S.MOODITHAYA

Designation Professor
Email Shailaja.moodithaya@nitte.edu.in
Joining date

M.Sc, Ph.D

Awarded partial travel grant for the participation of 15th Australasian Menopause Society Congress at Brisbane, Australia, held on 9th to 11th September 2011

4th APPICON held between 29th Nov to 1st Dec, 2018, at KMC,Manipal titled ' Oxidative Stress And Cellular Aging Biomarkers in Diabetes Mellitus Patients with and Without Insulin Therapy'
2nd International Conference on Aging and Gerontology held at San Diego, USA, on June 26-28, 2017, titled "Association of Tightness of Glycemic Control with Biomarkers of Ageing in Healthy and Diabetic Subjects"

Publications

Bharath R, ShailajaSM , Halahalli H,Undaru SB, Nallilu SK, Mirajkar AM. Evaluation of sympathetic sudomotor responses to auditory stimuli in children with autism spectrum disorders. Indian J Psychiatry 2020;62:494-500
Ashwini, Shailaja SM, Shetty PK, Mirajkar AM. Impact of maternal anthropometric parameters, physical activity level, and psychological stress on cardiac autonomic activity during the third trimester of pregnancy. Research J of Pharma Biol and Chem Sciences 2020; 11(4):73-82
Remya B , Shailaja SM, Shrinivasa U. Bhat, Amrit M. ,Sumanth BS. Comparison of Physiological and Biochemical Autonomic Indices in Children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorders. Medicina 2019, 55: 346 doi:10.3390/medicina55070346 www.mdpi.com/journal/medicina
Shruthi Suvarna H I ,Shailaja SM , Raghava Sharma.Metabolic and Cardiovascular Ageing Indices in Relation to Glycated Haemoglobin in Healthy and Diabetic Subjects :Current Ageing Science. 2017 10 (3)201-210
Shailaja SM, Damodar G, Suchetha Kumari. Anti-aging role of Curcumin by modulating the inflammatory markers in albino Wistar rats -Journal of National Medical Association; 2017 vol 109, No 1, 9-13

Physiology

Grant of Rs. 12,50,000/- has been sectioned for a project entitled " Select electrophysiological and biochemical indicators in Autism spectrum disorders" Department of Health Research.ICMR-DHR -2016
Grant of Rs. 14,55,000/- has been sanctioned for the project titled "Comparative and synergistic Radioprotective Effects of Cocos nucifera water and Trans-Zeatin on Electron Beam Irradiated Swiss Albino Mice". This project is funded by Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BRNS), Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) Government of India.-2012

Mrs. VIJAYALAXMI B.M.

Designation Tutor
Email Vijirajbm1998@nitte.edu.in
Joining date

Medical MSc.(Physiology), Ongoing PhD

Molecular biology, Applied physiology , Animal experimental pharmacological study

Attended International Conference On Radiation Biology 04-10-2018to 6-10-2018 at NITTE(Deemed to be University)

Vijayalaxmi BM1, Lakshmi Manjeera2*, Suchetha Kumari N3, Prasanna Kumar Shetty2, Amrith M Mirajkar1, Shilpa Shetty4, Pravesh Hegde4, and Prajna Bhandary4. Association between Vitamin-D with Metabolic Parameters in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Research Journal of Pharmaceutical, Biological and Chemical Sciences. 2020. October 2020 RJPBCS 11(5) Page No. 134-138
Vijayalaxmi B.M., A.P.Krishna and Dr. Shrikanth L. Patil Evaluation and comparison of lifestyle and fitness among software and Non-Software Professionals. European journal of pharmaceutical and medical research2017,4(11)

Human Physiology

Self-funded
Ongoing PhD Project Association of Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism with 25 hydroxy vitamin D and Sex hormone levels in women with and without polycystic ovarian Syndrome.

Admission 2026-27

Search Now

Department of Physiology