In-Utero Stem Cell Transplants

In recent years, a new medical technique has begun to emerge in the spotlight: In-Utero stem cell transplants. This fascinating procedure offers the possibility of treating genetic disorders in fetuses before the baby is even born. It allows doctors to treat severe conditions such as immune deficiencies and blood disorders very early on. This offers hope to many families, as it offers them the ability to treat disorders at the earliest stage efficiently and effectively, a major step in pediatric medicine.

An in-utero stem cell transplant (IUHCT) is a procedure in which surgeons introduce stem cells directly into a developing fetus in order to treat genetic disorders prior to the baby’s birth. The procedure is typically performed with a single injection. Usually, the injection is put directly into either the area in which the umbilical cord attaches to the placenta or directly into the umbilical cord itself. The most common use of this procedure is to treat fetuses with anemia, which is a medical condition in which the blood lacks hemoglobin or healthy red blood cells. However, there are reports of other procedures used for this procedure as well, some dating as early as 1967, although it is difficult to draw conclusions from these procedures, as they varied widely. 

In 2017, the first clinical trial of an in-utero stem cell transplant was launched, a groundbreaking surgical accomplishment. This initiative was launched by researchers at UC San Francisco, who were able to successfully treat a blood condition known as alpha thalassemia in a growing fetus. This is a life-threatening condition that can lead to anemia and prevent an adequate amount of oxygen from reaching the body’s tissues. Researchers were able to transplant the mother’s stem cells into her fetus, treating her condition. The baby, named Elianna, was born in February 2018. This example serves as a powerful representation of the promising implications of in-utero stem cell implants.

Although there are many benefits and positive implications of this procedure, there are still aspects that need to be taken into consideration. For instance, there are ethical concerns surrounding this surgery. For instance, it is an invasive surgery that alters the genetic makeup of the fetus. Additionally, there is still the need for long-term safety monitoring. Since this is still a relatively new procedure, we still need to take more time to observe the impacts that this surgery may have.

In conclusion, this procedure is a huge advancement in prenatal surgery/medicine. It has the ability to treat serious and even life-threatening genetic disorders before birth. However, while early results have indicated promising outcomes, this is still a novel procedure, and more research is required to fully understand the risks of this surgery. As research continues, this technique may be successfully performed on a global scale, giving affected babies a long and healthy life.

Written by Hawi Teju at Incisionary

References:

Alpha thalassemia: MedlinePlus Genetics. (2024). Medlineplus.gov. https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/alpha-thalassemia/#:~:text=In%20people%20with%20the%20characteristic,fatigue%2C%20and%20more%20serious%20complicatioms 

Anemia - Symptoms and causes. (2025). Mayo Clinic; https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20351360

Baby Born in World’s First In Utero Stem Cell Transplant Trial. (2018, May 25). Baby Born in World’s First in Utero Stem Cell Transplant Trial | UC San Francisco. https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2018/05/410436/baby-born-worlds-first-utero-stem-cell-transplant-trial

McClain, L. E., & Flake, A. W. (2016). In utero stem cell transplantation and gene therapy: Recent progress and the potential for clinical application. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 31, 88–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2015.08.006

Rytting, E., & Ahmed, M. S. (2012). Fetal Drug Therapy. Elsevier EBooks, 55–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-386007-1.00005-2