Researchers at Duke University have established a clinical trial in order to help treat cerebral palsy in young children.

Currently, there is no cure for cerebral palsy, which is a disorder that can develop at birth due to medical malpractice. If a child is deprived of oxygen during birth, his or her brain may suffer from damage, potentially leading to brain and nervous system issues resulting in physical and mental disabilities.

The clinical trial is looking at using a child’s own cord blood as a solution to help treat the symptoms of spastic cerebral palsy. Children between the ages of 1 and 6 are able to participate in the trial if they have a supply of their own cord blood. The blood is injected intravenously, and there is no chance of rejection due to it being the child’s own blood.

The doctors conducting this trial are hopeful that this method could improve the debilitating complications that develop in children with cerebral palsy. If the trial proves to be a success, then the doctors have stated their plans to move forward with using the cord blood to prevent the chronic condition altogether.