Posted: 2 March 2026
New pre-clinical evidence has been generated through the international PREMSTEM consortium, with RMIT University having contributed to research exploring how human mesenchymal stem cells could assist in repairing brain injury in children born preterm.
Around 15 million babies worldwide are born before 37 weeks of gestation each year. Being born preterm can disrupt development, with earlier births increasing the risk of life-changing health outcomes. As no treatment options have been available for brain injury resulting from preterm birth, progress has been achieved through PREMSTEM, supported by the European Union and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
In partnership with international experts, RMIT has investigated whether human mesenchymal stem cells (h-MSCs), derived from donated umbilical cord tissue, could help children affected by early-life brain injury. Associate Professor Bobbi Fleiss from RMIT’s School of Health and Biomedical Sciences said a primary objective was to answer three critical questions.
“We wanted to find out when we should give the stem cells, how to give them – via the nose or bloodstream – and how many were needed to have a positive effect on models of brain injury,” she said.
To analyse findings across multiple models of brain injury, the team collaborated with bioinformaticians to establish a systematic scoring system to determine the most effective timing, dosage and route of administration. The most promising outcomes were observed when stem cells were delivered via the nose shortly after injury had occurred.
“Our comprehensive pre-clinical studies undertaken by multiple teams demonstrate that this type of stem cell can have a positive effect on brain damage in different models of perinatal brain injury,” Fleiss said.
“Excitingly we also saw them having a positive impact on other types of cells, helping the brain to repair itself after a traumatic event like preterm birth.”
In parallel, new bedside diagnostic technologies have been pioneered using ultrafast ultrasound. Researchers at Physics for Medicine Paris and industry partner Iconeus have developed tools to detect blood vessel abnormalities in cases of brain injury.
“This exciting technology can help clinicians to better diagnose brain injury in children in a non-intrusive and comfortable way, keeping babies with their families even as we investigate their brains,” Fleiss said.
RMIT Europe has also played a central role in stakeholder engagement and communications, working with Enrique Conches at Punk Design to conduct co-creation workshops and interviews with parents, patient advocates, neonatologists, clinicians, nurses and researchers. These activities have resulted in a co-designed communications roadmap to guide future family-focused clinical research.