Optimal dosing of brain drugs for children
Official title: Optimal Dosing of CNS Drugs for Children
Funded at Children's Mercy Hosp (Kansas City, Mo) · NIH-11614138 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to figure out the best doses for medicines that affect the brain in kids, by studying how much drug reaches the brain and using non-invasive ways to measure it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Mercy Hosp (Kansas City, Mo) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $248,988 |
| NIH project number | 4R00HD114846-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11614138 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children aged 0-11 who require treatments for neurological conditions and have an external ventricular drain or are eligible for CSF sampling.
✕Less likely to help
Children without neurological conditions or without access to CSF sampling may not benefit from this study.
What this research studies
Many children with neurological conditions need medications, but the right doses are hard to know because measuring brain drug levels is difficult. The study uses a combination of lab models of the blood-brain barrier and real-world measurements from children who already have external ventricular drains, allowing repeated, non-invasive sampling of cerebrospinal fluid. Advanced pharmacokinetic modeling will turn those measurements into dosing guidance that adapts across different ages and conditions. This approach could lead to safer, more effective treatments for pediatric patients. Participation would involve children with a condition requiring brain-targeted therapy and who have or will have an external ventricular drain for clinical reasons.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could provide clearer dosing guidelines to improve safety and effectiveness of brain-targeted medications for children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous similar work using non-invasive CSF sampling and PK modeling has shown promise in guiding pediatric dosing, but this platform aims to extend it across more drugs.
Where this research is happening
-
Children's Mercy Hosp (Kansas City, Mo)
Kansas City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hunt, Porter — Children's Mercy Hosp (Kansas City, Mo)
- Study coordinator: Hunt, Porter
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.