Maternal and perinatal Health Research Collaboration, India (MaatHRI): establishing a hospital-based international collaborative research platform

Objective: To describe the processes used to establish and standardise a UK-India collaborative platform for maternal and perinatal health research (MaatHRI). Design: Hospital-based research platform. Setting: India Population: Pregnant women Methods: MaatHRI is adapted from the UK Obstetric Surveillance System (UKOSS) and built on a pilot model (IndOSS-Assam), which has been extensively standardised using the following methods: (i) establishing a network of hospitals; (ii) setting up a secure system for data collection, storage and transfer; (iii) developing a standardised laboratory infrastructure; and (iv) developing and implementing regulatory systems. Results: MaatHRI was established in September 2018. Fourteen hospitals participate across four states in India – Assam, Meghalaya, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. The Indian research team includes 20 nurses, a project manager, 16 obstetricians, two pathologists, a public health specialist, a general physician and a paediatrician. The UK partners include clinicians and epidemiologists from the University of Oxford. MaatHRI has advanced standardisation of data and laboratory parameters, monitoring data and participant safety, and secure transfer of data. An integral component of MaatHRI is bi-directional capacity building. It is overseen by a steering committee and a data safety and monitoring board which ensure equitable partnerships between the collaborating institutions. Conclusion: MaatHRI is the first prototype of UKOSS and other similar platforms in a low and middle income country (LMIC). The model used to develop the platform can be replicated in other LMICs. Funding: Medical Research Council Career Development Award to Manisha Nair (Ref:MR/P022030/1).