Stem cells through the nose: a new opportunity for babies with brain injury Some babies experience a lack of oxygen during or just before birth. This can lead to permanent brain damage, affecting movement, memory and cognition. The only available treatment, cooling the body in the first hours after birth, helps, but more than half of treated children still face long-term challenges. Sara De Palma investigated whether stem cells delivered through the nose can reach the brain and support recovery. The results are promising: in mouse studies, the stem cells reduced inflammation, limited brain damage and improved their ability to move. When combined with therapeutic hypothermia, the effect was even stronger. To confirm that this approach also works in an anatomy closer to humans, she tested the method in baboons. There too, the stem cells reached the entire brain within 18 hours. Sara’s work shows that this therapy is ready for the next step towards clinical application.
