Researchers from Monash University, Monash Health and Hudson Institute of Medical Research are working on a potentially game-changing treatment for brain injuries in preterm babies using stem cells from cord blood units donated by families after the birth of a full-term baby.

What is the ALLO Trial about?

The ALLO Trial is recruiting participants to test the feasibility and safety of using unrelated, banked cord blood derived stem cells in preterm babies with significant brain injury.

Researchers hope the cord blood cell therapy will be a natural protective shield for the infants’ brains, with umbilical stem cells proven to have anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and other protective mechanisms for the developing brain.

Who can participate and what does it involve?

The ALLO trial is an open-label, phase I, single-arm feasibility and safety study conducted at Monash Children’s Hospital, Victoria, Australia.

Preterm infants born before 28 weeks (ALLO-1) or between 28 weeks and 36+6 weeks (ALLO-2) gestational age with severe brain injury identified on neuroimaging will be enrolled.

Severe brain injury is defined as grade 3 or 4 intraventricular haemorrhage or significant white matter injury. Exclusion criteria include major congenital anomalies or redirection to comfort care.

Eligible infants will receive a single intravenous infusion of cord blood sourced from the BMDI Cord Blood Bank, one of three public cord blood banks in Australia, where mothers have the opportunity to consent to their cord blood being used for clinical research.

Infusion will occur within 2-3 weeks of confirmation of eligibility, contingent on clinical stability and absence of active infection.

Who do I contact?

If you are interested in participating or would like more information, please feel free to contact Prof Malhotra

Professor Atul Malhotra | atul.malhotra@monash.edu 

Lead researchers

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