LONDON, March 30 (UPI) -- London scientists are hoping to carry out gene transplant surgery on unborn children, the BBC reported Tuesday.
A team of researchers at Imperial College and University College has already been able to implant corrective genes in unborn mice using the therapy.
Scientists used a human immunodeficiency virus as a vector to transfer the corrective genes into the recipient -- having first removed the disease-causing elements of the virus.
The researchers are hopeful the technique could be used in unborn children who are at risk of developing conditions including cystic fibrosis, hemophilia and sickle cell disease.
Gene therapy in children and adults has faced problems because an immune response can be created by the recipient's body. Antibodies produced can prevent the treatment working.
The hope is that, at the fetal stage, the immune system is not yet developed sufficiently to prevent the beneficial effect of the implanted genes.
