Spanish Researchers Aim to 'Trick Nature' with Manufactured Uterus
2023-07-10
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1Researchers in the city of Spanish city of Barcelona are trying to "trick nature" by engineering a uterus from special materials.
2The goal is to use the artificial uterus to protect babies who are born too early and who have not developed enough to survive outside the womb.
3The scientists have tested the artificial uterus with animal fetuses.
4They were able to keep one fetus alive for 12 days.
5The researchers also created an artificial placenta.
6The placenta is an organ that develops during pregnancy to provide nutrients to the growing baby in the uterus.
7The artificial uterus recreates a protected environment in which the fetus' organs can continue to develop.
8It is made of a clear material that the researchers say does not react with tissue.
9The artificial uterus is connected to a system that continuously introduces amniotic fluid: a fluid that helps the baby develop in the uterus.
10The artificial uterus keeps the fetus separated from outside influences but still permits testing and observation.
11Babies born after six months of pregnancy or less are considered extremely premature, or underdeveloped, with a high risk of death or disability.
12The latest numbers from the World Health Organization show that 900,000 premature babies died around the world in 2019.
13Eduard Gratacos is head of the project.
14He told Reuters news service that the researchers are trying to develop a system that permits them to keep a fetus outside its mother but still in fetal conditions.
15Those conditions include breathing and eating through the umbilical cord, the passage that connects the baby to the placenta.
16The researchers hope to keep a fetus surrounded by fluid and at a controlled temperature so it can survive and develop.
17Gratacos leads a team of 35 scientists from BCNatal Medical Research Center.
18The center is linked to two hospitals, the University of Barcelona and the non-profit organization called the La Caixa foundation.
19It combines experts in maternal-fetal medicine and obstetrics.
20The team has studied the manufactured uterus with baby sheep.
21They also plan to test the system with pigs before proposing human studies in a few years.
22Gratacos said the complex project includes many different specialties of medicine and requires several kinds of engineers.
23He added, "It's a challenge, it's extremely delicate to achieve this, to trick nature to make this possible."
24There are a few similar projects around the world. One group of scientists at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia kept animal fetuses alive for up to 28 days.
25Kelly Werner is a professor of baby development at Columbia University in New York City.
26Werner told the Science Media Centre in Britain that the Spanish team's results must be completely tested on humans for safety and side effects.
27Werner said that although it is an interesting development, the manufactured placenta is not meant to replace a natural placenta.
28She said, "We still should make every effort to support maternal health and decrease risk factors that lead to preterm birth."
29I'm Gregory Stachel.
1Researchers in the city of Spanish city of Barcelona are trying to "trick nature" by engineering a uterus from special materials. 2The goal is to use the artificial uterus to protect babies who are born too early and who have not developed enough to survive outside the womb. 3The scientists have tested the artificial uterus with animal fetuses. They were able to keep one fetus alive for 12 days. 4The researchers also created an artificial placenta. The placenta is an organ that develops during pregnancy to provide nutrients to the growing baby in the uterus. 5The artificial uterus recreates a protected environment in which the fetus' organs can continue to develop. It is made of a clear material that the researchers say does not react with tissue. 6The artificial uterus is connected to a system that continuously introduces amniotic fluid: a fluid that helps the baby develop in the uterus. The artificial uterus keeps the fetus separated from outside influences but still permits testing and observation. 7Babies born after six months of pregnancy or less are considered extremely premature, or underdeveloped, with a high risk of death or disability. The latest numbers from the World Health Organization show that 900,000 premature babies died around the world in 2019. 8Eduard Gratacos is head of the project. He told Reuters news service that the researchers are trying to develop a system that permits them to keep a fetus outside its mother but still in fetal conditions. Those conditions include breathing and eating through the umbilical cord, the passage that connects the baby to the placenta. The researchers hope to keep a fetus surrounded by fluid and at a controlled temperature so it can survive and develop. 9Gratacos leads a team of 35 scientists from BCNatal Medical Research Center. The center is linked to two hospitals, the University of Barcelona and the non-profit organization called the La Caixa foundation. It combines experts in maternal-fetal medicine and obstetrics. 10The team has studied the manufactured uterus with baby sheep. They also plan to test the system with pigs before proposing human studies in a few years. 11Gratacos said the complex project includes many different specialties of medicine and requires several kinds of engineers. He added, "It's a challenge, it's extremely delicate to achieve this, to trick nature to make this possible." 12There are a few similar projects around the world. One group of scientists at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia kept animal fetuses alive for up to 28 days. 13Kelly Werner is a professor of baby development at Columbia University in New York City. Werner told the Science Media Centre in Britain that the Spanish team's results must be completely tested on humans for safety and side effects. 14Werner said that although it is an interesting development, the manufactured placenta is not meant to replace a natural placenta. She said, "We still should make every effort to support maternal health and decrease risk factors that lead to preterm birth." 15I'm Gregory Stachel. 16Horaci Garcia reported this story for Reuters. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. 17______________________________________________________________ 18Words in This Story 19artificial -adj. manufactured by humans, not natural 20trick - v. to deceive (someone) 21obstetrics -n. the area of medicine that deals with the care of a mother before, during and after birth, and the process of giving birth to a child 22challenge - n. a difficult task or problem 23delicate - adj. requiring special care or skill 24achieve - v. to get or reach (something) by working hard 25maternal - adj. of or relating to a woman who is having a baby 26factor - n. something that helps produce or influence a result 27_______________________________________________________________ 28What do you think of this story? 29We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 30Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.