Structure-guiding tools to understand how choline affects congenital hydrocephalus
Official title: Structure-Guiding Tools to Study the Role of Choline in the Development of Congenital Hydrocephalus
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11381748 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at UCSF is examining how choline transport across the blood-brain barrier may influence the development of congenital hydrocephalus in babies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $629,173 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS142590-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11381748 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are babies or families affected by congenital hydrocephalus or researchers studying brain development and choline transport.
✕Less likely to help
Families without interest in brain development research or with unrelated conditions may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will map the structures of two brain transporter proteins involved in choline movement, using advanced imaging to create a model for testing ideas. They will also study how choline moves through brain cells and how it interacts with heme-related signals, using cultured cells and labeled tracers. The work aims to link transporter function with how congenital hydrocephalus develops, laying the groundwork for targeted approaches in the future. This project combines structural biology with cellular assays to uncover mechanisms directly relevant to brain development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets for preventing or mitigating congenital hydrocephalus by improving how choline is transported in the developing brain.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show that transporter disruption can affect brain development, supporting the potential for meaningful insights with similar approaches.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Arnold, Thomas Darmody — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Arnold, Thomas Darmody
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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.