March 2, 2026
Tiny spines, huge comment wars
First-ever in-utero stem cell therapy for fetal spina bifida repair is safe
Six babies, no shunts, and the comments explode
TLDR: UC Davis safely added placenta stem cells to fetal spina bifida surgery in six babies, showing clean early results and FDA go-ahead for phase two. Commenters split between celebrating medical hope, roasting a “just abort it” take, and debating ethics, IVF costs, and where stem-cell healing might go next.
The internet is buzzing after UC Davis surgeons pulled off a world first: fixing spina bifida before birth and adding a tiny patch of placenta-derived stem cells for extra protection. The safety-only Phase 1 trial—six babies, zero scary surprises—landed in The Lancet and fast-tracked the team to a green light for Phase 2. MRIs showed key brain signs improving, no infections, no tumors, and no shunts before discharge. Translation: big hope for a tough birth defect.
Commenters came in hot. The calm explainer crowd summarized the score—“6 babies, results very good, Phase 2 next”—while the party split between miracle cheering and a fury-fueled ethics brawl. One unseen “just abort it” take ignited the thread, with a pro-choice user snapping back, “What a gross and idiotic take,” insisting that life still deserves reverence. Another voice added nuance: not everyone can or wants to “start over”—religion, disability pride, and sky-high IVF costs make that a non-answer.
Meanwhile, optimists dreamed bigger: if this works for spines, could stem cells one day help hearts? Cue jokes about “tiny stem-cell capes” and a “NICU Avengers” crossover, plus shout-outs to baby Tobi’s feel-good story. Science news with blockbuster drama? Absolutely. Read more at UC Davis Health and watch the comments melt down in real time.
Key Points
- •UC Davis Health completed a first-in-human Phase 1 trial adding placenta-derived stem cells to fetal surgery for spina bifida (myelomeningocele).
- •Among six treated infants, no stem cell–related safety issues, infections, CSF leaks, abnormal growths, or tumors were reported; all wounds healed fully.
- •All surgeries succeeded with planned stem cell patch placement; MRI showed reversal of hindbrain herniation in all infants, and none required hydrocephalus shunts before discharge.
- •Strong early safety led the FDA and an independent monitoring board to approve advancing to the next phase of the study.
- •The study was published in The Lancet and funded by a $9 million CIRM grant, aiming to improve outcomes beyond standard fetal surgery.