Spina Bifida (Myelomeningocele)Current News & Research

Research in Fetal Therapy

The UCSF Fetal Treatment Center has been on the forefront of fetal treatment research since it's inception. The first open fetal surgery in the world was performed at UCSF over 2 decades ago and we continue to dedicate ourselves to research and innovation.

Fetal Treatment Center in the News

Current Spina Bifida (Myelomeningocele) Research

• Developmental pathophysiology of Chiari II malformation in MMC
• Development of animal models to study development of neural damage and effect of repair
• Development of fetoscopic techniques to repair fetal MMC
• NIH-sponsored randomized clinical trial comparing open fetal surgical repair to repair after birth (MOMS Trial)

• Multicenter Trial of Fetal Spina Bifida (Myelomeningocele) - Harrison, Michael

  Studying the use of fetal surgery in the treatment of Myelomeningocele, as part of the Management of Myelomeningocele Study (MOMS)

  Publications:

  N. Scott Adzick, M.D., Elizabeth A. Thom, Ph.D., Catherine Y. Spong, M.D., John W. Brock, III, M.D., Pamela K. Burrows, M.S., Mark P. Johnson, M.D., Lori J. Howell, R.N., M.S., Jody A. Farrell, R.N., M.S.N., Mary E. Dabrowiak, R.N., M.S.N., Leslie N. Sutton, M.D., Nalin Gupta, M.D., Ph.D., Noel B. Tulipan, M.D., Mary E. D'Alton, M.D., and Diana L. Farmer, M.D. for the MOMS Investigators. A Randomized Trial of Prenatal versus Postnatal Repair of Myelomeningocele. New England Journal of Medicine. 2011 Feb

  von Koch CS, Compagnone N, Hirose S, Yoder S, Harrison MR, Farmer DL. Myelomeningocele: characterization of a surgically induced sheep model and its central nervous system similarities and differences to the human disease. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2005 Oct;193(4):1456-62.

  von Koch CS, Glenn OA, Goldstein RB, Barkovich AJ. Fetal magnetic resonance imaging enhances detection of spinal cord anomalies in patients with sonographically detected bony anomalies of the spine. J Ultrasound Med. 2005 Jun;24(6):781-9

  Williams G, Coakley FV, Qayyum S, Glenn OA, Breiman RS, Callen PW. Evaluation of femur length during the second and third trimesters in fetuses with myelomeningocele. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2004 Feb;23(2):148-51.

  Farmer DL, von Koch CS, Peacock WJ, Danielpour M, Gupta N, Lee H, Harrison MR. In utero repair of myelomeningocele: experimental pathophysiology, initial clinical experience, and outcomes. Arch Surg. 2003 Aug;138(8):872-8.

Current General Fetal Treatment Research

• Preterm Labor Factors in Patients Undergoing Fetal Surgery - Lee, Hanmin

  Study analyzing fetal surgery and preterm labor.

• Maternal Outcomes of Fetal Surgery - Lee, Hanmin

  Study analyzing the maternal risks of fetal surgical interventions.

  Publications:

  Golombeck K, Ball RH, Lee H, Farrell JA, Farmer DL, Jacobs VR, Rosen MA, Filly RA, Harrison MR. Maternal morbidity after maternal-fetal surgery. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2006 Mar;194(3):834-9.

• Adhesive and Tensile Properties of Amniotic Membranes - Harrison, Michael

  Examination of a novel preventive “presealant” to protect amniotic membranes during fetal surgery.

  Publications:

  Cortes RA, Wagner AJ, Lee H, Clifton MS, Grethel E, Yang SH, Ball R, Harrison MR. Pre-emptive placement of a presealant for amniotic access. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2005 Sep;193(3 Pt 2):1197-203

• Evaluation of Thoracoscopic and Laparoscopic Techniques for Pediatric and Fetal Congenital Defects - Lee, Hanmin

  Study evaluting recent advances in fetal treatment.

  Publications:

  Cortes RA, Farmer DL. Recent advances in fetal surgery. Semin Perinatol. 2004 Jun;28(3):199-211.

  Ball RH. Invasive fetal testing. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 2004 Apr;16(2):159-62