Lucknow : , Nov 22, 2012 – The King George’s Medical University will soon be equipped with a genetic diagnostics unit to help detect genetic diseases in infants.This unit, which will be located at Queen Mary’s Hospital in QMH of the university will perform genomic testing on babies both unborn and newly born.
Officials said that this will be the second state-owned genetic diagnostic center after the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, SGPGIMS.
The doctors will soon be able detect if babies have hereditary conditions and will begin treatment as soon as possible.
Parents will also be able decide whether or not to terminate a pregnancy if it is unborn.
Professor Mili Jain is a professor at the obstetrics & gynaology department and the head of the project.
She said that she had presented the idea for the unit to Central government in 2019.The proposal has passed scrutiny of both the expert committee and presentation stage.It is likely that we will get the final approval soon.”
Further, she stated that “We plan to screen for thyroid, thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia in babies.” Newborn babies will have their thyroid issues screened, while those born after will be checked for sickle cell and other conditions.
Jain stated that counselling can be started for parents if the problem is detected within three months.
These will help both the parents and the baby, as well as reduce government burden.
amita/dpb #KGMU #genetic #diagnostic #unit
