Why Shunts Sometimes Get Blocked in Kids with Hydrocephalus
Official title: Investigating the source and the action behind shunt obstruction in the treatment of pediatric hydrocephalus
Funded at Wayne State University · NIH-11333817 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to understand why brain fluid shunts clog in children with hydrocephalus and how to prevent it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wayne State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Detroit, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2016 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $524,995 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS094570-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11333817 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with hydrocephalus who receive shunts and are at risk for or experiencing shunt obstruction.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without shunt-related issues or those outside the pediatric hydrocephalus population may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at why shunt tubes used to drain brain fluid fail in kids with hydrocephalus. Researchers use computer modeling and a bench model called Brain on a Bench to recreate how tissue touches and crowds the shunt holes, then study how brain cells react after contact. The goal is to identify real-world factors that lead to obstruction and to determine whether cell growth is needed for blockage. The work combines engineering, biology, and biostatistics to map the events that cause failure over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to design changes or strategies that reduce shunt blockages and improve long-term outcomes for children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research shows shunt obstruction is common, but this study aims to clarify the cellular and fluid-dynamic causes, which could be a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Wayne State University
Detroit, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Harris, Carolyn a — Wayne State University
- Study coordinator: Harris, Carolyn a
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.
-
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.
-
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.
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.