Comparing endoscopic treatment and shunts for hydrocephalus in babies
Official title: Endoscopic versus Shunt Treatment of Hydrocephalus in Infants
Funded at Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah · NIH-11400235 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project compares an endoscopic procedure called ETV+CPC with standard CSF shunt surgery to find out whether babies under 1 year have similar thinking and development one year after treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2019 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $22,440 |
| NIH project number | 3U01NS107486-06S3 |
| Project ID | NIH-11400235 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Infants aged 12 months or younger (corrected age) with hydrocephalus who need surgical treatment at a participating tertiary pediatric neurosurgery center are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Older children, adults, or infants whose type of hydrocephalus makes ETV+CPC unsuitable would not be eligible or likely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
If your baby needs surgery for hydrocephalus, doctors at participating pediatric neurosurgery centers will treat infants with either an endoscopic procedure (ETV+CPC) or a traditional cerebrospinal fluid shunt. Babies will be followed for 12 months after surgery and their thinking and development will be measured using the Bayley-III Cognitive Scale with a preset non-inferiority margin. The work is done through the Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network at tertiary centers across North America and focuses on infants ≤12 months corrected age. The main aim is to determine whether choosing the endoscopic option can avoid lifelong shunt dependence without harming early cognitive development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If ETV+CPC produces similar cognitive outcomes, families might be able to avoid lifelong shunt complications, lowering long-term risks, costs, and quality-of-life burdens.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work from the Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network and others shows ETV+CPC is a safe and viable shunt-free option for many infants, but direct comparisons focused on cognitive outcomes are limited.
Where this research is happening
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Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kestle, John — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Kestle, John
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Endoscopic treatment vs shunt for infant hydrocephalus
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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.