Modulating choroid plexus function to restore CSF balance in hydrocephalus
Official title: Modulation of Choroid Plexus Immuno-secretory Function to Restore Cerebrospinal Fluid Homeostasis in Hydrocephalus
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11447990 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2018 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $631,161 |
| NIH project number | 2R01NS109358-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11447990 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be individuals with hydrocephalus related to inflammation where future trials might test new therapies, pending safety and regulatory steps.
✕Less likely to help
Early-stage preclinical research may not yet benefit patients until therapies are developed and tested in humans.
What this research studies
This project looks at how inflammation and immune signals in the choroid plexus affect CSF production and hydrocephalus. Using animal models and laboratory tests, researchers will test whether targeting specific pathways can rebalance CSF levels and improve outcomes. If successful, this work could point toward non-surgical therapies to prevent shunt failures and complications. The study builds on previous findings that the choroid plexus plays a central role in inflammatory hydrocephalus and aims to translate those insights toward human relevance.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Potential development of non-surgical treatments that reduce CSF overproduction and improve outcomes for people with hydrocephalus.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown the choroid plexus influences CSF production in inflammatory hydrocephalus, supporting the plausibility of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kahle, Kristopher T. — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Kahle, Kristopher T.
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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Endoscopic treatment versus shunt for hydrocephalus in infants
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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Wearable system to monitor shunt health in hydrocephalus patients
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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.