The ZonMw Pearl was awarded to the NIPT consortium for research that has made an important contribution to prenatal screening in the Netherlands. This so-called TRIDENT-2 study is a successful collaboration between a large number of parties, led bij Amsterdam UMC. In April 2023, all pregnant women in the Netherlands will have access to the innovative blood test.

The Pearl was handed over by ZonMw Chairman Arfan Ikram to the NIPT consortium. This is a collaboration between eight university centers, VSOP and RIVM. NIPT stands for non-invasive prenatal test’: a safer and more effective method of screening pregnant women for Down’s, Edwards’ and Patau’s syndrome.

NIPT for every pregnant woman
Until now, this blood test was only available to participants in a large study into the operation and effects of NIPT: the TRIDENT-2 study. Amsterdam UMC is the coordinator of this research. The positive results have led VWS Minister Kuipers to make the innovative blood test available free of charge to all pregnant women as of April 1, 2023. This makes NIPT a structural part of regular prenatal screening in the Netherlands.

Pearl
The Pearl is an honorary prize for exceptionally good ZonMw projects. The good cooperation in the NIPT project is one of the success factors: 'Everyone turned out to be willing to put aside their own priorities and interests in order to make this a success together. That is really something to be proud of'.

Video
Watch the video about the prenatal test (NIPT) below. This video was made with support from Amsterdam Reproduction and Development (AR&D).

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