UC Davis has been pioneering research in using stem cells to halt spina bifida, a birth defect in which the spinal tube doesn't properly close. Human clinical trials are now going on. The study recruited pregnant women carrying children identified early in pregnancy as having spina bifida. The procedure is to do surgery halfway through the pregnancy and apply stem cells to the fetus' spine, then let nature do its work as the fetus grows.&nbsp;You can see <a href="https://youtu.be/fa_MB5hGknI">part two</a> and <a href="https://youtu.be/MPFCPOaM-AM" alt="part three" class="on">part three</a> of the video series at YouTube, concerning recruiting patients for the trial and the first prenatal surgery of the trial. The best one is part four.

In September of 2021, the first baby on the study was born. Little Robbie, who otherwise was expected to have leg paralysis,<a href="https://newatlas.com/medical/stem-cell-therapy-spina-bifida-clinical-trial/">&nbsp;is healthy and thriving a year later.</a>&nbsp;By now three babies have been born in the trials, which will eventually include 35 children before the study concludes. So far, the results are looking very good. -via&nbsp;<a href="https://www.damninteresting.com/curated-links/">Damn Interesting&nbsp;</a>#stemcell #spinabifida #clinicaltrial #stemcelltherapy