Rhian Stavely

Autologous enteric neural stem cells for Hirschsprung disease

Hirschsprung disease is caused by the absence of enteric neurons, leading to severe bowel dysfunction despite lifesaving surgery. This project develops an autologous enteric neural stem cell therapy that replaces missing neurons using a patient’s own cells. By rebuilding functional enteric neural networks, the approach aims to restore gut motility and reduce lifelong complications. The work focuses on defining potency, manufacturing scalability, and safety to enable first-in-human clinical translation.