Gates Foundation Backs Remidio’s AI Retinal Scans to Detect Pregnancy Risks in Africa & India
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The technology is built around a portable smartphone-based fundus camera that can be operated by frontline healthcare workers with minimal training.
Remidio, a Bangalore-based digital health startup, has received a grant from the Gates Foundation to deploy its AI retinal scans in maternal healthcare programs across Africa and India.
The project is focused on detecting pregnancy-related complications earlier and closer to where women receive care, particularly in underserved communities where access to laboratory testing and specialist services remains limited.
Remidio’s approach is based on the growing understanding that the retina can reveal signs of systemic disease. As the only part of the human body where blood vessels can be directly visualised non-invasively, the retina provides valuable insights into vascular and metabolic health.
Changes associated with pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes can leave detectable patterns in retinal blood vessels, creating an opportunity for AI-based analysis.
"The women most at risk from pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes are often the least likely to reach a laboratory or a specialist in time," said Dr Anand Sivaraman, CEO and Founding Director of Remidio.
The company says its AI models have been trained and validated using large and diverse retinal image datasets to identify biomarkers linked to these conditions.
By analysing retinal images captured at the point of care, the system aims to provide rapid risk assessments without requiring specialist interpretation.
"The microvascular and metabolic changes associated with pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes leave detectable signatures," said Dr Divya Rao, Chief Medical Officer and Head of AI at Remidio. "Evidence, not assumption, will decide where this proves useful."
The technology is built around a portable smartphone-based fundus camera that can be operated by frontline healthcare workers with minimal training.
A retinal scan can be completed in less than a minute, making it suitable for community-based screening programs. Remidio has already deployed the platform for the detection of diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration, and the Gates Foundation-backed initiative marks a significant step toward expanding AI retinal scans into maternal health.
The program will be implemented through partner sites across Africa and India, regions that continue to carry a substantial share of the global burden of maternal and perinatal mortality.
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