To combat the COVID-19 pandemic and potential future outbreaks, a collaborative study from Shiv Nadar Institute of Eminence (SNIoE), Noida, and other research institutes discovered a chemical compound called STL522228. This promising compound inhibits a crucial protein in the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) coronavirus, shedding light on the pressing need for effective antiviral treatments.

In a recent collaborative study, researchers from the Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, and Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad, uncovered the role of a host protein, nuclear receptor corepressor (NCoR1), in modulating tuberculosis.

The 6th National Post-Doc Symposium (NPDS), took place from October 12 to 14, 2023, at the Trivedi School of BioSciences, Ashoka University, Sonipat. It was organised by the Early Career Researchers at the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine, and Ashoka University, with support from IndiaBioscience.

A recent study by researchers at the National Institute of Immunology (NII), New Delhi, led by Arnab Mukhopadhyay, used C. elegans to show how damage to somatic tissues in the body can influence the development of reproductive cells—particularly eggs. They found that DNA damage signals from uterine tissue can stop egg cell formation through a key FOXO transcription factor, which is a highly conserved protein across different organisms.

The first Regional Young Investigators' Meeting (RYIM) 2023-2024 took place at CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Lucknow, from September 13 to 15. RYIM Lucknow featured a remarkable diversity among attendees from various research backgrounds, aligning perfectly with the theme 'connect, collaborate, and accomplish'.

A team of researchers at the SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, identified a natural compound, cordycepin, to be protective against cadmium-induced toxicity in zebrafish. They found that cordycepin alleviates the gut inflammation, tissue damage, and developmental deficits caused by cadmium exposure in zebrafish. This work holds therapeutic potential for cordycepin in treating cadmium-induced toxicity.

Candida infections, caused by pathogenic fungi, pose a significant threat, especially to vulnerable individuals. Researchers from Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, have developed a gelatin-based platform that closely mimics human skin, aiding in the study of Candida biofilm formation and potentially speeding up drug development to combat these infections.