Endoscopic opening plus choroid plexus treatment for childhood hydrocephalus
Official title: Experimental Studies of Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy and Choroid Plexus Cauterization in Hydrocephalus
Funded at Virginia Commonwealth University · NIH-11189757 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores whether combining an endoscopic third ventriculostomy with choroid plexus cauterization can help infants and young children with hydrocephalus avoid lifelong shunt surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project start | September 27, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $592,845 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS130103-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11189757 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
The findings would be most relevant to infants and young children with hydrocephalus, especially those with obstructive forms where ETV or ETV-CPC are considered.
✕Less likely to help
Adults with other types of hydrocephalus or patients with complex medical conditions unrelated to choroid plexus-driven fluid dynamics may not benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, the team is using a large-animal model (juvenile pigs) to mimic childhood hydrocephalus and to compare the effects of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) alone versus ETV plus choroid plexus cauterization (CPC). They will perform the surgical procedures in a clinically relevant way and measure brain physiology and development afterwards. The goal is to learn whether removing or cauterizing the choroid plexus changes brain growth, neurogenesis, or other homeostatic functions. Results will help explain conflicting clinical outcomes and guide safer use of ETV-CPC in infants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to safer alternatives to shunts that reduce lifelong surgical complications for infants with hydrocephalus.
How similar studies have gone: Clinical reports and smaller studies have shown mixed results for ETV-CPC in infants, and long-term effects on brain development remain unclear.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcallister, James Patterson — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Mcallister, James Patterson
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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.