A new clinical trial in Australia will see if cord blood stem cells can be used to treat cerebral palsy. This is the first trial of its kind in Australia that will involve a small group of children diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

One of the children taking part is a 10-year-old boy from Perth named Fletcher Garrett. Fletcher’s parents hope that cord blood stem cell treatment can reduce his cerebral palsy symptoms and improve his quality of life.

Cerebral palsy is a congenital disorder that affects more than 17 million people around the world. It is caused by abnormal brain development, usually before a child is born. The symptoms include difficultly moving the body, muscle rigidity, learning disabilities, limping, issues with coordination, and slow growth.

Cerebral palsy is typically treated with physical therapies and medications. There is currently no cure for the condition.

This new trial will use the collected cord blood stem cells from the siblings of each patient. The researchers believe that these stem cells will repair the subject’s body, reducing their cerebral palsy symptoms.

The trial is being organised by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, through Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital. It will be funded by the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation.

Siblings have a 25% chance of being a stem cell match, which means only certain children have donor stem cells available. Luckily for Fletcher, his sister Martha was a full match and her cord blood stem cells were stored.

If successful, this cord blood stem cell treatment may be able to help millions of people with cerebral palsy.

Source: Little sister’s stem cells offer Fletcher hope

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