There is probably nothing more frightening
There is probably nothing more frightening

than getting the diagnosis that something
than getting the diagnosis that something

is potentially wrong with your future baby.
is potentially wrong with your future baby.

So, fetal surgery opened the door to fetal intervention,
So, fetal surgery opened the door to fetal intervention,

to fetal treatment and a broad range of fetal therapies.
to fetal treatment and a broad range of fetal therapies.

So as a fetal surgeon,
So as a fetal surgeon,

I have always been interested in the placenta.
I have always been interested in the placenta.

I even have a stuffed placenta in my office.
I even have a stuffed placenta in my office.

This organ, one of the fastest growing body parts,
This organ, one of the fastest growing body parts,

it develops blood vessels that allow blood
it develops blood vessels that allow blood

to go back and forth between the fetus and the mother.
to go back and forth between the fetus and the mother.

I mean, it's just amazing.
I mean, it's just amazing.

I knew that there was interesting biology in the placenta.
I knew that there was interesting biology in the placenta.

The CuRe Trial, which stands for
The CuRe Trial, which stands for

Cellular Therapy for In Utero Repair
Cellular Therapy for In Utero Repair

builds on previous work that's been going on a long time.
builds on previous work that's been going on a long time.

I started collaborating with a fabulous bioengineer,
I started collaborating with a fabulous bioengineer,

and the two of us have been scientific partners
and the two of us have been scientific partners

over the last decade
over the last decade

to bring these engineered placental-derived stem cells
to bring these engineered placental-derived stem cells

to therapy for children with spina bifida before birth.
to therapy for children with spina bifida before birth.

We first asked the question, how we can really
We first asked the question, how we can really

use the most advanced bioengineering technologies,
use the most advanced bioengineering technologies,

including placenta-derived stem cells,
including placenta-derived stem cells,

to help the patient to recover better.
to help the patient to recover better.

So they are very smart.
So they are very smart.

They can help the spinal cord tissue to grow better
They can help the spinal cord tissue to grow better

and in the end, actually, we got the FDA approval
and in the end, actually, we got the FDA approval

for the clinical trial.
for the clinical trial.

Spina bifida is all from a simple failure of that spine
Spina bifida is all from a simple failure of that spine

and that spinal cord to close early in gestation
and that spinal cord to close early in gestation

and can result in lifelong paralysis,
and can result in lifelong paralysis,

bowel and bladder dysfunction,
bowel and bladder dysfunction,

as well as some central neurologic problems.
as well as some central neurologic problems.

The CuRe Trial is an attempt
The CuRe Trial is an attempt

to improve the neurologic outcome or the baby's ability
to improve the neurologic outcome or the baby's ability

to do things like walk after the operation.
to do things like walk after the operation.

We're placing human stem cells into the fetus
We're placing human stem cells into the fetus

during fetal surgery.
during fetal surgery.

We create a piece of tissue
We create a piece of tissue

that has the stem cells growing on it.
that has the stem cells growing on it.

We trim this piece of tissue to the right shape and size,
We trim this piece of tissue to the right shape and size,

and place it right on the exposed spinal cord of the fetus
and place it right on the exposed spinal cord of the fetus

during the operation.
during the operation.

And in that way, the stem cells gives its effects
And in that way, the stem cells gives its effects

during the rest of gestation.
during the rest of gestation.

So this is a very long term trial to figure out
So this is a very long term trial to figure out

whether these stem cells helped or not.
whether these stem cells helped or not.

We know that the MOMS trial, which was a clinical trial
We know that the MOMS trial, which was a clinical trial

that really established fetal surgery for spina bifida
that really established fetal surgery for spina bifida

as the new gold standard, had a great improvement
as the new gold standard, had a great improvement

in outcomes for children.
in outcomes for children.

But we know that the vast majority of children still
But we know that the vast majority of children still

could not walk unassisted after fetal surgery
could not walk unassisted after fetal surgery

despite the improvements.
despite the improvements.

So this is an opportunity to make a huge difference
So this is an opportunity to make a huge difference

in the children's lives and their family's lives
in the children's lives and their family's lives

and improve that outcome for them.
and improve that outcome for them.

The way that the CuRe Trial is conducted
The way that the CuRe Trial is conducted

is extremely rigorous.
is extremely rigorous.

There's oversight from the FDA.
There's oversight from the FDA.

The CuRe Trial is part of CIRM,
The CuRe Trial is part of CIRM,

which is the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine.
which is the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine.

And so the amount of science, of regulation, of passion
And so the amount of science, of regulation, of passion

that's gone into getting the CuRe Trial
that's gone into getting the CuRe Trial

to where it is now, is phenomenal.
to where it is now, is phenomenal.

This particular clinical trial is all UC Davis
This particular clinical trial is all UC Davis

and we are so lucky.
and we are so lucky.

We have the GMP, the Good Manufacturing Practice Facility,
We have the GMP, the Good Manufacturing Practice Facility,

right around the corner
right around the corner

for generating the clinical-grade cells.
for generating the clinical-grade cells.

So it's like we are destined to it.
So it's like we are destined to it.

I cannot be more excited for my patients.
I cannot be more excited for my patients.

I think it will make a tremendous difference.
I think it will make a tremendous difference.

Even if you do not become a CuRe patient,
Even if you do not become a CuRe patient,

absolutely come and contact us.
absolutely come and contact us.

You can still be treated with fetal treatment
You can still be treated with fetal treatment

provided you're eligible.
provided you're eligible.

I really do think that we can reverse the damage
I really do think that we can reverse the damage

that was done and potentially eliminate nearly all
that was done and potentially eliminate nearly all

of the disability associated with spina bifida.
of the disability associated with spina bifida.

I really believe it's possible.
I really believe it's possible.