India’s largest pregnancy cohort study under the GARBH-INi initiative has reached around 12,000 enrolled women, marking a major step in indigenous research on preterm births. The programme aims to develop AI-driven, India-specific solutions for early prediction, diagnosis and prevention of preterm delivery, which remains a major cause of neonatal mortality and long-term health complications.
About GARBH-INi Initiative
GARBH-INi stands for Interdisciplinary Group for Advanced Research on Birth Outcomes. It is a Department of Biotechnology initiative focused on maternal and child health. The programme uses a data-driven model combining clinical epidemiology, multi-omics biomarkers and artificial intelligence to improve pregnancy outcomes in Indian conditions.
Scale of the Research Cohort
The initiative has created one of South Asia’s largest pregnancy cohorts.
- Around 12,000 pregnant women have been enrolled.
- More than 1.6 million well-characterised biospecimens have been collected.
- Over one million ultrasound images have been generated.
- A national biorepository has been established for wider scientific use.
This large dataset provides a strong base for advanced maternal health research and personalised risk assessment.
Key Scientific Outcomes
The programme has produced several practical innovations for early intervention.
- AI-based pregnancy dating models tailored for Indian populations.
- Microbiome-based predictors of preterm birth.
- Rapid diagnostic tools for risk detection.
- Genetic markers for early risk assessment.
These tools are intended to support earlier and more accurate clinical decisions in pregnancy care.
Partnerships, Data Sharing and Public Health Value
The initiative has also strengthened technology transfer and collaboration. A microbiome-based biotherapeutics technology has been transferred to industry, while letters of intent have been signed for AI-enabled ultrasound reporting and risk stratification platforms. The GARBH-INi-DRISHTI data-sharing platform has been created to support researchers and expand the programme’s impact. The initiative reflects India’s broader push to link biotechnology, preventive healthcare and national development.
Last Modified: April 29, 2026