January 27, 2025
Summary based on an article by Eric Bailey, published via UC Davis Health News.
At 18 weeks pregnant, Lindsey received news that her unborn son, Nixon, had the most severe form of spina bifida, known as myelomeningocele. This condition can cause lifelong disabilities, including issues with mobility, cognition, and organ function.
After researching treatment options, Lindsey and her husband Jared discovered the “CuRe Trial: Cellular Therapy for In Utero Repair of Myelomeningocele” at UC Davis Health. The CuRe Trial is the world’s first to combine fetal surgery with stem cell therapy for spina bifida.
Lindsey became the sixth patient in the trial. The procedure was performed at 24 weeks of pregnancy by Dr. Diana Farmer and Dr. Shinjiro Hirose, who applied a stem cell patch to the baby’s spine while he was still in the womb.
Following the surgery, Lindsey was monitored with weekly ultrasounds. Her water broke at 29 weeks, and she remained hospitalized until delivering Nixon at 34 weeks.
Now over a year old, Nixon is doing well. He can move independently with support and is hitting developmental milestones. He continues to be monitored as part of the clinical trial but does not require further treatment at this time.
The CuRe Trial is led by UC Davis surgeon-scientist Dr. Diana Farmer and represents decades of research into fetal surgery and regenerative medicine.
Neuroscience, Regenerative
University of California, Davis
Harrington Scholar-Innovator