Australian-first stem cell trial tackles rare condition

The condition leaves them extremely vulnerable to common illnesses, with most dying from infection within their first years of life. 

About seven children are born with RAG-1 SCID in Australia every year. 

The trial at Melbourne's Murdoch Children's Research Institute will see participants have stem cells taken from their own bone marrow to be genetically modified with a healthy copy of the RAG-1 gene.

It will then be injected back into the child's bloodstream where it will become healthy white blood cells that will build a functional immune system.

The trial is only the second one worldwide, following on from the work of the Leiden University Medical Centre in the Netherlands.

Medical Research Minister Ben Carroll said the "groundbreaking" trial would give young Australians the chance to live a happy, healthy and long life.