Dr. Anjaly M.V. (School of Ayurveda), Dr. Muralidharan V. (School of Biotechnology) and Dr. Avani Pillai (School of Medicine, AIMS, Kochi) Secures 95.6 Lakhs Grant from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Government of India, to study the role of an ayurvedic treatment protocol as a prerequisite for in vitro fertilization in women with diminished ovarian reserve: elucidating mechanistic insights incorporating multi-omics approaches

Co-Principal Investigators

• Dr. Bipin Nair, Dean and Professor, School of Biotechnology,
• Dr. Hemavathi S. K., Professor, Department Of Prasuti Tantra & Streeroga, Amrita School Of Ayurveda
• Dr. Chitra R, Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, AIMS, Kochi

Research Proposal: A Deeper Dive into Ayurvedic Treatment for Diminished Ovarian Reserve

Background

Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR) is a significant challenge in reproductive medicine, often leading to infertility. While current treatments like DHEA and IVF with donor eggs offer limited solutions, there’s a growing interest in exploring alternative approaches.

Novelty and Objectives

This research proposes a novel approach by integrating Ayurvedic medicine with modern scientific techniques to address DOR. The primary objectives are:

1. Clinical Evaluation: To assess the efficacy of an Ayurvedic treatment protocol in improving key biomarkers of ovarian reserve, specifically Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) levels and Antral Follicle Count (AFC).
2. Molecular Mechanisms: To delve into the underlying mechanisms of action of the Ayurvedic treatment through transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics approaches.

Expected Outcomes and Implications:

The study aims to:

• Validate Ayurvedic Treatment: Provide scientific evidence for the effectiveness of Ayurvedic treatment in improving ovarian reserve.
• Identify Molecular Targets: Uncover the underlying mechanisms of action of the Ayurvedic treatment, paving the way for targeted interventions.
• Optimize Treatment Strategies: Inform personalized treatment plans for DOR patients by tailoring the Ayurvedic treatment to specific molecular targets.
• Advance Reproductive Medicine: Contribute to developing novel therapeutic strategies for infertility, particularly in cases of diminished ovarian reserve.
• Improvement of the serum AMH value and the antral follicle count in diminished ovarian reserve patients after Ayurveda treatment. This may enable successful IVF treatment without a donor egg. This also enables the identification of therapeutic targets through multi-omics approaches.

By combining the wisdom of traditional medicine with cutting-edge scientific techniques, this research has the potential to revolutionize the management of DOR and offer hope to countless women struggling with infertility.

The sanctioned amount is 95.6 Lakhs.

Dr. Anjaly M.V. is an Associate Professor in the Prasuti Tantra and Streeroga Department, Amrita School of Ayurveda, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham.

Dr. Muralidharan V. is an Assistant Professor at the School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham

Dr. Avani Pillai is an Additional Professor at the Department of  Reproductive Medicine,  School of Medicine, Amrita Hospital, Kochi, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham