A world-first therapy, developed at Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Monash University, using cells from the human placenta to repair the damaged lungs of premature babies, is giving hope to families of the most fragile infants like Harry Campbell.

BPD is the most common disease affecting premature babies. The smaller the baby, the greater the risk of them developing this chronic preterm lung disease and, if BPD takes hold, there is no cure and it can cause multiple life-long health impacts.

“This is the first step towards a therapy for very vulnerable premature infants who currently have no other effective treatment. BPD is a devastating disease, these babies often suffer severe and life-long conditions,” Dr Rebecca Lim, joint first author of the study, said.

Listen to Rebecca Lim with Norman Swan on The Health Report

Read about Dr Lim and her research.