Garbhini-Drishti

• 06 Feb 2025

Why in News? 

India took a major step forward in its commitment to cutting-edge biomedical research and innovation by inaugurating the nation’s first Ferret Research Facility, launching the GARBH-INi-DRISHTI data repository, and finalizing a key technology transfer agreement. 

• The event was held at the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) in the NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana. 

 Key Points 

• THSTI Ferret Research Facility: 
  • India inaugurated the THSTI Ferret Research Facility, a state-of-the-art establishment adhering to the highest biosafety and research standards. 
  • The facility plays a crucial role in vaccine development, therapeutic testing, and research on emerging infectious diseases. 
  • It strengthens India's pandemic preparedness strategy and enhances its position in global scientific research. 
• GARBH-INi-DRISHTI: 
  • GARBH-INi-DRISHTI is a pioneering DBT Data Repository and Information Sharing Hub at THSTI. 
  • The platform provides clinical data, images, and biospecimens from over 12,000 pregnant women, newborns, and postpartum mothers. 
    • As one of South Asia's largest maternal and child health databases, it enables researchers to conduct transformative studies to improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes. 
  • This initiative represents a collaborative effort among India's leading research institutions and hospitals, fostering a strong research ecosystem. 
• Technology Transfer Agreement: 
  • THSTI signed a Technology Transfer Agreement with M/s Sundyota Numandis Probioceuticals Pvt. Ltd. to commercialize its innovative microbial consortium, Lactobacillus crispatus. 
    • Isolated from the reproductive tracts of women enrolled in the GARBH-INi cohort, this synthetic microbial consortium holds immense potential for nutraceutical applications. 
  • The agreement facilitates the translation of research into real-world health solutions through targeted microbiome-based interventions. 

 Garbh-Ini 

• Garbh-Ini (Interdisciplinary Group for Advanced Research on Birth Outcomes—DBT India Initiative) was initiated by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), in 2014 as a collaborative interdisciplinary program. 
• This program is led by Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), NCR Biotech cluster, Faridabad. 
• It aims to elucidate biological and non-biological risks of preterm birth (PTB) to create important knowledge-driven interventions and technologies that can be sustainably implemented in clinical practice and in the community for this disease.