The CuRe Trial | UC Davis Children's Hospital

The first ever in utero stem cell treatment for spina bifida is the culmination of decades of work from UC Davis surgeon-scientist Diana Farmer. This novel fetal surgery at UC Davis Children’s Hospital could change the life of a developing baby with spina bifida, who otherwise could be born paralyzed from the waist down. In Part 1 of this docuseries from UC Davis Health, we meet the team behind the groundbreaking CuRe Trial and see how decades of research led to a first-of-its-kind fetal surgery.

To learn that their developing baby had spina bifida was a shock to first time parents Emily and Harry. The discovery led them to the CuRe Trial at UC Davis Children’s Hospital. Their baby would become the first ever to receive stem cells in utero to treat Spina Bifida. In Part 2 of this docuseries from UC Davis Health, we meet the first patient to receive the groundbreaking fetal surgery and take a rare look inside the UC Davis GMP facility where the stem cell patches are created.

In a first-of-its-kind fetal surgery, UC Davis surgeons apply stem cells to the spinal cord of a developing baby with spina bifida. Spina bifida can leave people paralyzed from the waist down, but this novel treatment aims to reverse issues in a developing baby before it is born. In Part 3 of this docuseries on the CuRe Trial from UC Davis Health, we watch as this historic fetal surgery is performed at UC Davis Children’s Hospital and follow the mother on her journey to delivering her first child.

A historic day at UC Davis Children’s Hospital. A baby is being born after receiving a first-of-its-kind fetal surgery months before. Stem cells were applied to her spinal cord in a new procedure to treat spina bifida, a condition that could otherwise leave the baby paralyzed from the waist down. In part 4 of this docuseries on the CuRe Trial from UC Davis Health, we meet baby Robbie on the day she’s born and see the initial results of a novel procedure that could change her life – and the lives of many more spina bifida patients to come.

The UC Davis fetal surgery team describes the science behind the landmark Cellular Therapy for In Utero Repair of Myelomeningocele (CuRe) trial, and how this cutting-edge stem cell technology may help improve outcomes for babies with spina bifida.

Fetal surgery pioneer Diana Farmer, M.D., and her team describe the history of treatment options for patients with spina bifida, from the first days of fetal surgery to the stem cell clinical trial called CuRe (Cellular Therapy for In Utero Repair of Myelomeningocele) at the UC Davis Fetal Care and Treatment Center.

The UC Davis fetal surgery team explains fetal surgery for spina bifida and shows an animated version of the operation. They also describe the special stem cell patch used in the Cellular Therapy for In Utero Repair of Myelomeningocele (CuRe) trial.

In "Hope for a Spina Bifida Cure, Parts 1 and 2," you’ll meet Michelle and Jeff, a couple expecting their first child who dropped everything and moved from Oregon to Sacramento to take part in the CuRe trial. You'll also hear about bulldogs with spina bifida who paved the way for the human trial – including a sweet English bulldog named Myrtle.

Learn more about the first comprehensive multidisciplinary fetal diagnosis and therapy center in inland Northern California and home to the CuRe trial.