Revolutionizing neonatal health: India's journey from assays to advanced genetics.

Abstract

According to UNICEF India, an estimated 67,385 neonates are born daily in India, each striving to survive the initial 28 days of life, which are pivotal in determining their future health prognosis. A significant number of these neonates succumb to inborn errors of metabolism (IEM), resulting in a spectrum of either manageable or severe clinical consequences. The evolution of techniques from basics to next-generation sequencing (NGS) and cutting-edge bioinformatics has enabled the prompt and precise identification of metabolic defects during the early stages of life. But the limited awareness, facilities, and access to the screening program necessitate the urgent need for establishing a state-of-the-art screening initiative all over India. The program holds the potential to substantially diminish infant mortality rates and alleviate the national health burden. This article delineates inborn errors of metabolism, investigates the advancements in diagnostic methodologies, outlines the NGS technique, underscores the role of computational biology, and advocates for the establishment of a centralized screening initiative in India specifically for treatable IEM. Furthermore, a few case studies have been included to showcase the notable discoveries of genes and associated disorders facilitated by NGS along with some studies highlighting the advantages of employing computational biology.