Targeting the brain’s fluid system to treat post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus
Official title: Targeting the Choroid Plexus-Cerebrospinal Fluid System to Treat Post-Hemorrhagic Hydrocephalus
Funded at Boston Children's Hospital · NIH-11617794 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
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) | $94,333 |
| NIH project number | 3R01NS129823-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11617794 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals affected by post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus or prematurity-related brain bleeds where CSF regulation and macrophage activity are relevant.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without PHH or without related CSF regulation issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
If your child (or you) has PHH after a germinal matrix bleed, this research aims to understand how the choroid plexus and brain-immune cells control CSF flow and how they clear blood from ventricles. The team will look at how certain transport proteins and macrophages affect CSF balance, with the goal of identifying therapeutic targets. The work combines laboratory studies of human brain tissue and related biology to inform future treatments that could reduce brain pressure and injury. This project is centered on mechanisms that could one day translate into new therapies for PHH.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to targeted treatments that reduce brain pressure and improve neurological outcomes after brain bleeds.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests that manipulating CSF transport and immune clearance can influence CSF dynamics, supporting potential translational progress.
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
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Endoscopic versus Shunt Treatment of Hydrocephalus in Infants
A study compares two treatments for hydrocephalus in infants to see which keeps babies cognitively on par with the standard shunt treatment.
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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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Modulating choroid plexus function to restore CSF balance in hydrocephalus
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.
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Wearable system to monitor shunt health in hydrocephalus patients
A wearable COSMOS device would continuously monitor CSF shunt function and signs of infection to help patients and clinicians catch problems earlier.
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.