Dr. Thébaud’s team has treated the first patient in an innovative cell therapy clinical trial – the first of its kind in the world – that aims to prevent very premature babies from developing a chronic lung disease called bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Premature babies need extra oxygen and mechanical intervention to breathe, but this damages their lungs, thereby causing BPD. The lack of oxygen during brain development can lead to other problems. Dr. Thébaud’s team previously discovered that cells from umbilical cord tissue, called mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), can heal lung injury and prevent BPD in experimental lab models. Since then, the team has been working to bring this novel therapy to babies and their families through clinical trials. The goal of this Phase 1 trial is to determine if the therapy is safe and feasible for premature babies, and to find the best dose for future trials.
