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On March 23, 2026, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh announced successful milestones of the initiative, including the development of homegrown AI tools to predict preterm births.
Key Information
- GARBH-INi Initiative Stand For: Interdisciplinary Group for Advanced Research on Birth outcomes – DBT India Initiative
- Lead Agency: It is a collaborative initiative under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), led by the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad.
- Core Objective: To understand the biological and non-biological risks of preterm birth (PTB) and develop sustainable, technology-driven interventions for clinical use.
- Garbhini-GA2 Model:
- Developed by researchers from IIT Madras and THSTI, this is the first India-specific AI model to precisely estimate gestational age (fetal age) in the second and third trimesters.
- It reduces estimation errors by nearly threefold compared to traditional Western models (like Hadlock), which often fail to account for Indian fetal growth variations.
- Cohort Study: One of South Asia's largest pregnancy cohorts, tracking 12,000 women from early pregnancy (<20 weeks) through delivery and up to 6 months postpartum.
- Advanced Research Pillars:
- Genetic Markers: Identification of 19 genetic markers (SNPs) associated with preterm birth risk.
- Microbiome Research: Developing predictors based on the vaginal microbiome to identify risk factors early.
- AI Integration: Using machine learning to analyze ultrasound images and clinical data for personalized maternal risk stratification.
- Significance: Strengthens India's preventive healthcare capabilities and supports the "Viksit Bharat" vision for 2047 by ensuring healthier generations.
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