$15 million grant allows for further trials of UC Davis Health Spina Bifida treatment

(FOX40.COM) - - A UC Davis Health research study group has been awarded $15 million to continue their groundbreaking work on a spina bifida treatment for phase 2 of medical trial tests.

A $8.9 million grand from The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine and a match of $5.9 million from Shriner's Children will continue the work led by fetal surgeon Diana Farmer and bioengineer Aijun Wang.

Considering that spring of 2021, the group's Cellular Therapy for In Utero Repair of Myelomeningocele (CuRe) scientific trial has actually been establishing a first-of-its kind treatment that will use a stem cell spot to treat spina bifida in a fetus.

The research study was authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2020 for Phase 1/2a trial.

When back tissue in a fetus fails to fuse correctly throughout the early stages of pregnancy, Spina bifida is.

This leaves a portion of the fetal spinal cord unprotected which can lead to lifelong lower body paralysis and bowel and bladder dysfunction.

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The developing treatment would have a placenta-derived stem cell patch delivered straight to the back opening of the fetus while it is still developing in its mothers womb.

Both grant donors voted all that the CuRe research study "has extraordinary benefit."

According to UC Davis Health, between 1,500 to 2,000 children in the United States are affected by spina bifida every year.