Scientists at the UCL GOS Institute of Child Health reveal that new genetic mutations which occur during embryonic development can cause the severe birth defect spina bifida. Many genes have been implicated in spina bifida, and mutations which are n…
A team from University College London Hospitals (UCLH), UCL and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) has won the clinical leadership team award in the BMJ awards, the UK's leading medical awards which promote excellence in healthcare and recognise the insp
New award for vital research into the causes of birth defects
20 Jul 2018, 3:06 p.m.
Dr Gabriel Galea has been awarded a Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Career Development Fellowship to continue important research into the molecules, genes and physical forces that control the formation of the neural tube in the developing embryo.
Surgery in the womb for spina bifida has stopped paralysis in dozens of babies
2 May 2021, 9:02 a.m.
Dozens of babies with spina bifida have been spared paralysis and other life-limiting conditions after undergoing surgery in the womb in a cutting-edge procedure made available on the NHS.
First UK surgery in the womb for babies with spina bifida
24 Oct 2018, 12:01 a.m.
A team from Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), University College London Hospitals (UCLH) and UCL has operated on the abnormally developed spinal cords of two babies in the womb, in what are the first surgeries of their kind in the UK.
Myelomeningocele is a type of spina bifida. This is when the neural tube has failed to close and the neural tissue is exposed on the baby’s back. The myelomeningocele will look like a sac sticking out from a baby’s back.
This is a list of patient diagnoses which are admitted to Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) by our Neurosurgery team, the timeframe in which they should be treated and their estimated length of stay (LoS).
This is a list of patient diagnoses which are admitted to Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) by our Neurosurgery team, the timeframe in which they should be treated and their estimated length of stay (LoS).
First UK surgery in the womb for baby with spina bifida
24 Oct 2018, 12:01 a.m.
A team from Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and University College London Hospitals (UCLH) have carried out the first two operations on the damaged spinal cords of babies in the womb, in what are the first surgeries of their kind in the UK.
GOSH and UCLH prepare to launch first service to provide fetal surgery for spina bifida in UK
26 Jul 2018, 9 a.m.
A team from Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and University College London Hospitals (UCLH) are preparing to introduce the first service providing fetal surgery for spina bifida in the UK.
New treatment may work with folic acid to prevent neural tube defects like spina bifida
9 Aug 2013, 12:46 p.m.
Researchers at the UCL Institute of Child Health (ICH) are investigating a new treatment that could work alongside folic acid to boost its effectiveness and prevent a greater proportion of neural tube defects – such as spina bifida – in early pregnancy.
Neuroscience is the medical speciality under the care of the neurology and neurosurgical teams. The team assesses and treats children with conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles. At Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), physiothera
MRI scans more precisely define and detect some abnormalities in unborn babies
17 Mar 2021, 10:57 a.m.
MRI scanning can more precisely define and detect head, neck, thoracic, abdominal and spinal malformations in unborn babies, finds a large multidisciplinary study led by Evelina London Children’s Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital and UCL.
Inositol taken alongside folic acid may be most effective in preventing neural tube defects
4 Feb 2016, 5:42 p.m.
Women at risk of carrying babies with spina bifida and other neural tube defects may benefit from taking inositol, also called vitamin B8, alongside folic acid during pregnancy, suggests research from a team at the UCL Institute of Child Health, the resea
Europe’s first research centre to tackle birth defects
25 Oct 2012, 4:05 p.m.
Better ways to tackle birth defects will be investigated at the Newlife Birth Defects Research Centre (BDRC) which officially opened on Thursday 25 October 2012.
Nine-year-old Sara has an extremely rare condition called Currarino Syndrome. Although the condition is present from birth, Sara wasn’t diagnosed until she was seven at GOSH.
Prevention of neural tube defects in women taking additional supplements
22 Mar 2016, 2:57 p.m.
BRC-supported researchers Professors Andrew Copp and Nicholas Greene have led research which suggests that women who are at risk of having children with neural tube defects such as spina bifida may be able to reduce this risk by taking inositol (Vitamin B
