Amniotic Fluid, Placental and Fetal Stem Cells
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A study to collect amniotic fluid and membranes, placental and fetal blood and their stem cells to understand their characteristics, their ability to predict fetal disease and to determine the feasibility of biobanking for therapeutic use.
IRAS ID
133888
Contact name
Anna David
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Research summary
1) To analyse stem cells from amniotic fluid, fetal blood and urine and placental tissue. Stem cells are cells that are able to regenerate themselves and become other cell types of the body. The fetus (baby in the womb) has many types of stem cells. To find out about the cells' characteristics, growth and the types of tissues that they can turn into, and to assess the feasibility of biobanking (storing) the cells for future clinical use to treat congenital (genetic) and acquired diseases in the baby before and after birth and
2) to use the amniotic fluid and fetal urine to provide an indication of outcome after birth of fetal diseases such as abnormal kidneys when the disease is diagnosed in the womb before birth and 3) use samples of amniotic membrane, umbilical cord or placental tissue to test out new techniques to visualise the baby in the womb.REC name
London - Bloomsbury Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/0863
Date of REC Opinion
15 Aug 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion