First-Ever In-Utero Stem Cell Therapy for Fetal Spina Bifida Repair is Safe, Study Finds
A UC Davis Health research team, including Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Surgery Aijun Wang, has safely performed the world’s first spina bifida treatment combining fetal surgery with stem cells, according to results from Phase 1 of an ongoing clinical trial. These results have been published in The Lancet.
Spina bifida affects 1,500 to 2,000 children in the United States every year. While fetal surgery has greatly improved outcomes since it was introduced more than a decade ago, many children still struggle with mobility and have other long-term complications. The CuRe Trial is exploring whether stem cells can add regenerative power to surgery, potentially improving mobility and quality of life.
“This is a major step toward a new kind of fetal therapy, one that doesn’t just repair but potentially helps heal and protect the developing spinal cord,” said Wang, who is the co-inventor of the placental-derived stem cell treatment technology and the study’s co-principal investigator with Distinguished Professor of Surgery Diana Farmer.
“Our team has developed an innovative live stem cell patch technology, which was evaluated in this first-in-human Phase 1 study. The results from this study establish an important foundation for in utero regenerative therapy for congenital disorders. We look forward to ongoing expanded studies to define the long-term impact of this approach.”