Maternal-fetal surgeons can already remove deadly tumors, unblock clogged aortas, and treat spinal abnormalities in utero. What’s coming next may be even more dramatic.

Driven by the success of the mRNA vaccines that have proved so potent against COVID-19, scientists working at academic medical centers are exploring the potential for this new and flexible technology to be used in novel ways for other infections and possibly for the treatment of difficult-to-manage conditions like cancer.