Spina bifida is the most common cause of lifelong childhood paralysis in the United States; approximately four children are born with this spinal defect every day. Standard care usually involves surgery, but it still leaves more than half of children unable to walk. Dogs are also sometimes born with spina bifida and most are euthanized at birth. But a combination of surgery and stem cell treatment may offer hope to both children and dogs. In the first of two episodes of Unfold, we examine the first clinical trial to treat bulldogs with spina bifida. 

In this episode:

Beverly Sturges, professor emeritus, neurosurgeon at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine 

Aijun Wang, biomedical engineer with UC Davis School of Medicine

Diana Farmer, pediatric surgeon and chair of surgery at UC Davis Health

Katie Teykaerts, owner of Myrtle, a dog with spina bifida enrolled in a clinical trial