Around 15 million babies are born prematurely each year, often before 37 weeks of gestation. This early arrival can lead to significant developmental challenges, particularly in brain health. Currently, there are no effective treatments for brain injuries resulting from preterm birth. However, a collaborative effort known as the PREMSTEM project is making strides in this area, investigating the potential of human mesenchymal stem cells (h-MSCs) as a therapeutic option.
The research, published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation, has been spearheaded by RMIT University in conjunction with international experts. The aim is to determine how h-MSCs can assist children suffering from early-life brain injuries. Associate Professor Bobbi Fleiss, from RMIT’s School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, emphasized the project’s focus on three essential questions: when to administer the stem cells, the best method of delivery—whether by nasal route or bloodstream—and the optimal dosage required for a beneficial effect on brain injury models.
Utilizing h-MSCs derived from donated umbilical cord tissue, researchers tested various administration methods and timings to gauge their efficacy. Through collaboration with bioinformaticians, they developed a scoring system to analyze their extensive data, identifying the most effective combinations. Initial findings indicated that administering stem cells nasally shortly after brain injury yielded the most promising results.
“Our comprehensive pre-clinical studies demonstrate that this type of stem cell can have a positive effect on brain damage in different models of perinatal brain injury,” Fleiss stated. She also noted that these stem cells appear to aid in the repair of other brain cells following traumatic events, such as preterm birth.
Innovative Diagnostic Tools for Brain Injury
Another significant advancement from the PREMSTEM project includes the development of new brain imaging technologies. Researchers at Physics for Medicine Paris, in partnership with the industry firm Iconeus, have created ultrafast ultrasound tools designed to diagnose brain injuries at the bedside. These non-invasive diagnostic tools focus on identifying blood vessel abnormalities associated with brain injuries in young patients.
“This exciting technology can help clinicians diagnose brain injury in children in a non-intrusive and comfortable manner, allowing families to remain close to their babies during assessments,” Fleiss explained.
Community Engagement and Research Impact
To enhance the research’s societal relevance, RMIT Europe played a vital role in engaging stakeholders through the PREMSTEM initiative. This involved workshops and interviews with parents, patient advocates, neonatologists, clinicians, nurses, and researchers, led by Enrique Conches from Punk Design. The objective was to identify gaps in community knowledge regarding the safety and effectiveness of stem cell treatments, addressing societal concerns about the research.
The feedback gathered from these engagement efforts resulted in a co-designed communications roadmap intended to guide future clinical research involving families. Over the span of six years, PREMSTEM researchers have demonstrated that h-MSCs can significantly influence brain injury and inflammation in laboratory settings. This progress lays the groundwork for future clinical trials focused on families and their needs.
As the research continues, it brings hope for new treatment options for those impacted by neonatal brain injuries, representing a significant step forward in pediatric healthcare. The systematic evaluation of h-MSCs as a viable therapeutic intervention marks a promising horizon in the ongoing quest to mitigate the effects of preterm birth on brain development.
