World · 8 March 2026
Womb treatment for spina bifida shows 'very exciting' early results
Unsplash / Dexswaggerboy
A pioneering treatment for spina bifida, administered while the baby is still in the womb, has shown significant improvements to children's mobility and quality of life in a US-led clinical trial. The procedure applies stem cells from the mother's placenta directly to the baby's spine during corrective surgery before birth. UK charity Shine, which supports people with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, described the trial results as very exciting and said they could lead to important new treatment options.
Reported by Positive News / Shine · How we write briefs