Cerebrospinal fluid drainage in babies with bleeding-related hydrocephalus
Official title: Assessing CSF flow dynamics in pediatric hemorrhagic hydrocephalus
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston · NIH-11324957 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how cerebrospinal fluid drains in newborns who develop hydrocephalus after brain bleeding, and how drainage relates to inflammation and recovery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $564,926 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS126437-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11324957 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are premature newborns or infants who have had intraventricular hemorrhage and developed or are at risk for post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus.
✕Less likely to help
Older children, adults, or children whose hydrocephalus is caused by non-bleeding conditions are unlikely to benefit directly from this pilot.
What this research studies
If my baby joins, doctors will use a new, noninvasive imaging method called fluorescence cap-based transcranial optical tomography (fCTOT) to watch how cerebrospinal fluid moves between the brain ventricles and lymphatic drainage pathways. They will also collect biological markers of neuroinflammation and combine those results with brain imaging and clinical follow-up. The pilot aims to find patterns that predict which infants worsen and to point toward better ways to prevent long-term brain injury.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help clinicians spot babies at high risk for worsening hydrocephalus and guide treatments to prevent long-term brain damage.
How similar studies have gone: Animal and preclinical studies support a role for impaired lymphatic CSF outflow and inflammation in hydrocephalus, but using fCTOT imaging in human infants is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sevick, Eva M. — University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
- Study coordinator: Sevick, Eva M.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Targeting the brain’s fluid system to treat post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus
This grant explores a new approach to treating post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus by studying how the brain’s fluid system and immune cells manage CSF after a brain bleed.
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Endoscopic versus Shunt Treatment of Hydrocephalus in Infants
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This project tests whether a shunt-free endoscopic procedure can be as good as traditional shunting for babies with hydrocephalus.
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Endoscopic treatment vs shunt for infant hydrocephalus
Infants with hydrocephalus may be treated with a shunt or a shunt-free procedure called ETV+CPC, and this study compares the two to see if the shunt-free option can keep cognitive outcomes similar.
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Functional screen of hydrocephalus and heart-disease genes in a frog model
A study uses frog embryos to test how human genetic changes might cause congenital hydrocephalus and related heart defects, with the goal of understanding why these conditions occur.
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Modulating choroid plexus function to restore CSF balance in hydrocephalus
A new NIH grant aims to adjust the choroid plexus, the brain’s CSF factory, to restore normal CSF flow and reduce hydrocephalus-related problems.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.