Nephrotic syndrome is one of the most common kidney disorders in children, and a large proportion of patients prove resistant to the classical mode of treatment - steroids. In a new collaborative study spanning across continents, researchers have identified six novel genes involved in the pathogenesis of this disorder.

After over a century of being known worldwide by the wrong scientific name, a group of scientists has finally established the taxonomic identity of the hump-backed mahseer, an iconic fish native to south India and known to reach massive sizes. The discovery is expected to aid conservation efforts for this endangered species, allowing it to be red-listed.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, usually detected in the late stages and almost always fatal in consequence. Now, a new study suggests that fingolimod, a drug commonly used for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, can also be used to target pancreatic cancer cells and make them more sensitive to chemotherapy.

Many birds use seasonal cues to regulate their reproductive cycles. They do this by sensing day-lengths (photoperiods) or night-lengths (scotoperiods). Researchers from the Indo–US Center for Biological Timing, University of Delhi and University of Lucknow investigated the neurobiological pathways that mediate this process in one such bird - the spotted munia (Lonchura punctulata).

Sex-selection drugs are indigenous herbal concoctions sold to expectant mothers with the claim of favouring the birth of a male child. Research from the Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH), Delhi - Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) reveals the presence of heavy metals and harmful chemicals in these preparations, which pose a severe risk to the health of both newborns and mothers.

For plants, choosing to fight against a pathogen often comes at the cost of compromised growth and development. Now, scientists from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi and the Indian Institute of Science, Education & Research, Thiruvananthapuram (IISER-TVM) find a new molecular player that helps maintain this delicate balance.

Dengue is an ongoing major public health concern in India, with 1,88,401 new cases being reported in 2017 alone. New research from the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi, describes a novel strategy towards developing a vaccine for this disease that circumvents the risk of the deadly dengue shock syndrome.