July 2026

Researchers have identified critical antibody binding sites on the JC polyomavirus (JCPyV), a breakthrough that could pave the way for the first effective treatments and vaccines against the virus responsible for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare but usually fatal brain disease affecting people with severely weakened immune systems. The findings were published in the journal PNAS.

Researchers have uncovered a key biological mechanism that explains why muscles become weaker with age and why regular exercise remains one of the most effective ways to preserve muscle strength. The findings identify a gene called DEAF1 as a major driver of age-related muscle decline and suggest it could become a promising target for future therapies.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the approval of CASGEVY (exagamglogene autotemcel), allowing its use in children 2 years of age and older with sickle cell disease (SCD) experiencing recurrent vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs) and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia (TDT). The therapy was previously approved only for patients aged 12 years and older.

NIT Rourkela is one of the premier national level institutions for technical education in the country and is funded by the Government of India. Government of India has elevated the Regional Engineering College, Rourkela to a deemed university under the name of National Institute of Technology, Rourkela.  The main objective of the Institute is to produce quality Engineers and Scientists in Graduate and Post-Graduate levels in various branches of Engineering and Science.