A recent study from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, has identified a new key player among brain regions, the superior colliculus (SC), in guiding skilled forelimb movements.

A collaborative research by scientists from the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bangalore, and the Institute of Functional Genomics, University of Montpellier, INSERM, CNRS, France, has recently solved the structures of the complex brain receptor—metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGlu5). They describe the binding mode of small molecules known to increase receptor activity, paving the way for new avenues in drug design.

Scientists at the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar, have uncovered the molecular mechanism behind Gram-negative bacteria’s resistance to the drug PC190723, revealing how intra-molecular interactions in proteins, such as salt bridges, prevent the drug from binding effectively.

Researchers at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Mumbai, have recently elucidated the neurocircuit mechanism of DOI (2,5‑dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine), a serotonergic psychedelic known to reduce anxiety. Their findings pave the way for emerging clinical research and potential therapeutic interventions targeting mental distress caused by anxiety.

Researchers at Jadavpur University, have developed a mathematical model that can predict the way psoriasis progresses during treatment, provide optimal treatment solutions and also calculate any future triggers.

Researchers from Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, have developed the Human Physiomimetic Liver Acinus Model (HPLAM), a 3D-printed liver model that mimics human liver functions to better predict drug-induced liver injuries. This advanced model aims to address the limitations of animal testing in drug toxicity evaluation, offering a more accurate and human-relevant alternative.

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) have developed a device that can be 3D-printed and can be used to screen drug combinations in oral cancer patients. The design relies on patient-specific stem-like spheroids cultured on a chip. This innovation could help examine how individual patients respond to drugs before treatment begins.