A first of its kind study from Duke University is targeting autism – with the goal being to see if stem cells could be used to help treat children dealing with the disorder.

Researchers used umbilical cord blood infusions to help ease autism symptoms in children. They found that using the youngsters’ own rare stem cells resulted in significant improvements in their behavior.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as one in 45 American children has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Symptoms vary from mild social awkwardness to serious mental handicap, debilitating repetitive behaviors, and an inability to communicate.

There’s no cure, but researchers hope their findings could lead to long-term treatment. Skeptics point out there are many unanswered questions in this study, but now a second trial is underway.