Reducing brain fluid buildup after bleeding in premature infants
Official title: Targeting the Choroid Plexus-Cerebrospinal Fluid System to Treat Post-Hemorrhagic Hydrocephalus
Funded at Boston Children's Hospital · NIH-11248423 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether changing how the brain's choroid plexus handles salt and water and how immune cells clear blood can prevent fluid buildup in premature babies after brain bleeding.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $582,811 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS129823-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11248423 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are premature infants who have experienced intraventricular hemorrhage and are at risk of developing post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus.
✕Less likely to help
Adults or patients without recent intraventricular bleeding are unlikely to benefit from this infant-focused research.
What this research studies
Researchers are working to understand why some premature infants develop post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) after intraventricular bleeding. They will study two processes: ion and fluid transport by the choroid plexus (focusing on the NKCC1 transporter) and how macrophages clear blood from the brain's ventricles. The team will use laboratory and developmental models plus analysis of relevant samples to see if altering these processes reduces cerebrospinal fluid accumulation. Ultimately they aim to find targets for treatments that could prevent hydrocephalus and limit long-term brain injury.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that reduce CSF buildup and lower the need for surgical shunts in infants with PHH.
How similar studies have gone: Prior basic and preclinical studies have suggested roles for NKCC1 and macrophage-mediated blood clearance in CSF dynamics, but translating these findings into proven therapies for PHH remains largely untested.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lehtinen, Maria — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Lehtinen, Maria
Related research
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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.