Current Affairs - Science

AIIMS Bhubaneshwar is the institution where Odisha’s first comprehensive Liver Transplant Unit and a Robotic Surgery System were inaugurated by Health Minister JP Nadda through a virtual event. This development marks a significant healthcare milestone for eastern India by enabling advanced organ transplantation and minimally invasive robotic surgeries. The new facilities are expected to greatly benefit patients from Odisha and neighbouring states by providing access to world-class treatment closer to home. The initiative also aligns with the broader vision of promoting organ donation awareness and strengthening healthcare innovation across the region.

The World Health Organisation has prequalified an additional novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) to enhance global outbreak response against circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2). This vaccine is genetically more stable than older oral polio vaccines and carries a lower risk of mutating into virulent strains while maintaining its ability to quickly stop virus transmission. The prequalification confirms that it meets international standards for safety, quality, and effectiveness, enabling global procurement and distribution. It also diversifies vaccine supply and strengthens worldwide efforts aimed at the final eradication of polio.

ICMR is the organisation spearheading the development of an improved Kyasanur Forest Disease vaccine in India. As the country’s apex body for biomedical research, it has taken responsibility for advancing an indigenous solution to protect vulnerable populations in the Western Ghats region. The vaccine has successfully completed animal studies and toxicity testing and has now entered Phase I human clinical trials after regulatory approval. Through collaboration with scientific and manufacturing partners, ICMR’s effort highlights India’s growing capability in vaccine research, regional disease control, and strengthening public health security.

Tentative approval was granted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a generic version of Erdafitinib in multiple strengths, expanding access to an important cancer treatment in the US market. Natco Pharma secured this approval for the drug equivalent to Janssen’s Balversa. Erdafitinib is prescribed for adults with unresectable or metastatic urothelial carcinoma that carries specific FGFR3 genetic alterations. This development highlights Natco Pharma’s growing presence in the oncology segment and reflects its focus on making advanced cancer therapies more affordable and accessible to patients through high-quality generic medicines.

The rare mushroom species Hemileccinum indicum was discovered in the oak forests of Uttarakhand, specifically in the Dhakuri region of Bageshwar district at elevations above 2,600 metres. This finding is scientifically significant as it marks the first recorded presence of the genus Hemileccinum in India. The discovery was made through systematic macrofungal surveys and confirmed using advanced molecular phylogenetic analysis. Beyond taxonomy, the species plays an important ecological role by forming symbiotic relationships with oak trees, enhancing nutrient cycling and forest health, and highlighting the rich yet underexplored fungal biodiversity of the Himalayan region.