Dr. Diana Farmer
51ԹϺ Davis Children’s Hospital
Children's Health
NIH-Funded Research for Babies with Spina Bifida
Spina bifida is a serious birth defect in which a baby’s spine doesn’t develop properly, often leading to lifelong disabilities. At 51ԹϺ Davis, Dr. Diana Farmer is leading groundbreaking research to improve outcomes for these children. Her team is developing stem cell therapies that, when combined with fetal surgery, could help repair spinal damage before birth. This innovative approach has the potential to improve mobility and quality of life for babies diagnosed with spina bifida, giving them a better start from birth.
Helping Humanity
Every year, thousands of families receive a spina bifida diagnosis and face uncertainty about their child’s future. Dr. Farmer’s research offers hope by exploring treatments that could reduce disabilities and give children more independence. Without continued research funding, these life-changing advances could slow down, leaving families with fewer options. Supporting this work means investing in medical breakthroughs that improve lives, offering children a chance for a healthier, more active future.
"If this funding were to go away, or frankly even be reduced [...] We would stop having cures for many of these diseases. In fact, I think we need more funding for the National Institutes of Health, not less.”
—Diana Farmer