Treating fetuses with stem cells proves safe in milestone spina bifida trial: The study is now scaling up to do more in utero procedures and evaluate effects on disability as children grow.

The article focuses on a pioneering clinical trial led by University of California, Davis researchers testing an experimental in utero treatment for severe spina bifida using placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells (PMSCs) combined with fetal surgery. The trial involved six pregnant women whose unborn babies received a PMSC patch applied to the exposed spinal cord before surgical closure, with initial results showing no short-term adverse effects and no interference with the benefits of surgery alone. While the study is expanding to include more participants and longer follow-up to assess safety and functional outcomes such as mobility and bowel/bladder function, experts emphasize the need for extended monitoring to determine long-term effects. This research represents a significant step toward improving treatments for spina bifida and advancing the use of in utero stem cell therapies for birth defects. [Extracted from the article]