ArticleBMJ open2026
Helping Underdeveloped Lungs with Cells (HULC-2): mesenchymal stromal cells in extreme preterm infants at risk of developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia - a study protocol of a phase 2 multicentre double blind randomised controlled trial in Canada.
Article in BMJ open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07058025 (Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Extreme Preterm Infants at Risk of Developing Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia - A Phase 2 Multi-Centre Double Blind Randomized Controlled Trial), which is not on this map. Cited by 2 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Extreme Preterm Infants at Risk of Developing Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia - A Phase 2 Multi-Centre Double Blind Randomized Controlled Trial
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC)-based therapies for neonatal lung and brain injury - one size fits all?Molecular and cellular pediatrics · 2026Review
- The Role of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in the Treatment of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: A Multi-Prong Approach for a Heterogeneous Disease.Comprehensive physiology · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
15 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionBronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains a major complication among extremely low gestational age (ELGA) infants, with long-term respiratory and neurodevelopmental consequences. Despite advances in neonatal care, effective therapies to prevent BPD are lacking. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), particularly those derived from umbilical cord (UC-MSC), offer promise due to their pleiotropic effects. Preclinical and early-phase clinical studies have demonstrated safety and potential efficacy of MSC in neonatal lung injury. The Helping Underdeveloped Lungs with Cells (HULC)-2 trial aims to evaluate whether multiple intravenous doses of human allogenic UC-MSC can reduce mechanical ventilation duration and improve the respiratory outcome in ELGA infants at high risk of developing BPD. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: HULC-2 is a multicentre, double-blind, randomised controlled Phase II trial conducted in Canadian Neonatal Intensive Care Units. ELGA infants (gestational age <28 weeks) who remain ventilator-dependent between 4 and 14 days of life will be randomised to receive either 3 weekly intravenous doses of UC-MSC (10×10 ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study was approved through Clinical Trials Ontario by the Ottawa Health Science Network Research Ethics Board. Results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications, conferences and public engagement platforms. Parent partners are actively involved in study design and dissemination to ensure relevance and transparency. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT07058025.
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