FIRST-EVER IN-UTERO STEM CELL THERAPY FOR FETAL SPINA BIFIDA REPAIR IS SAFE, STUDY FINDS

Summary from the TLDR newsletter

A research team at UC Davis Health has safely performed a spina bifida treatment combining fetal surgery with stem cells. The therapy involved adding a layer of human placenta-derived stem cells to standard fetal surgery. Putting stem cells into a growing fetus was a total unknown, but the team reported great safety. The success paves the way for new treatment options for children with birth defects.