Hydrocephalus Association Research Grant Program is sponsored by Hydrocephalus Association. This program supports innovative research projects aimed at improving the lives of individuals affected by hydrocephalus.

The Hydrocephalus Association funds high-impact, high-quality basic and translational research for the identification and testing of new drugs and other therapies, advancing the understanding of the condition and moving new discoveries towards clinical use.

Hydrocephalus Research the Hydrocephalus Association Funds By connecting basic, translational, and clinical researchers, HA is accelerating hydrocephalus research and working to fulfill our mission. The Hydrocephalus Association Research Program is focused on advancing promising avenues of hydrocephalus research and building a committed and connected hydrocephalus research community.

Through the support of three research networks and our patient-powered registry, HA has created a research ecosystem that improves the lives of those with hydrocephalus now, while identifying and testing new hypotheses and therapies. By connecting basic, translational, and clinical researchers, HA is accelerating hydrocephalus research and working to fulfill our mission.

Funding high-impact, high-quality basic, and translational research is essential for the identification and testing of new drugs and other therapies that could change how we treat hydrocephalus.

That is why, each year, the Hydrocephalus Association runs grant cycles to fund individual researchers conducting innovative and exciting research that will improve our understanding of the condition, identify and test new interventions, and move new discoveries towards clinical use.

All Past Grantees and Programs Neuropsychology & Cognition Award To advance research on quality of life aspects of hydrocephalus across the lifespan, in 2024, HA launched the Neuropsychology and Cognition Award . The goal of this award is to support innovative research that broadly addresses the utility and development of neuropsychological and cognitive assessment tools.

Posthemorrhagic Hydrocephalus of Prematurity (PHHP): Elucidating Neurocognitive and Neurobehavioral Phenotypes with Robust Longitudinal Assessment Developing a Brief, Repeatable, and Web-based Assessment of Cognitive Status for Patients with Obstructive Hydrocephalus Neuropsychological Phenotypes of Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus In 2024, HA launched the Accelerator Award to fund the advancement of ongoing research at any stage from the bench-to-bedside.

This grant provides support for established investigators for research focused on preventing hydrocephalus or developing non-invasive treatments. A Role for Choline in Congenital Hydrocephalus Interplay Between Genetics and Alcohol Consumption in iNPH Inflammatory Lipids as Novel Therapeutic Targets and Biomarkers for Acquired Hydrocephalus This award was supported by Team Hydro.

A Large Animal Model of Germinal Matrix Hemorrhage for the Advancement of Choroid Plexus Therapies This award was supported by Team Hydro. In 2015, HA launched the first-ever Innovator Award for Investigators in Hydrocephalus Research. The goal of this grant is to provide seed funding for bold and innovative research with the potential to transform the field of hydrocephalus.

Image-Guided Laser Clearance of Occluded Ventricular Catheters for Treatment of Hydrocephalus Choroid Plexus Targeted Treatment for Hydrocephalus This award was supported by Team Hydro. Addressing Paenibacillus-Associated Neonatal Sepsis and Post-Infectious Hydrocephalus in East Africa (PANS-PIH) This award was supported by Team Hydro.

Investigating the Use of Focused Ultrasound as a Gene Delivery Approach Targeting Ependymal Cells This award was supported by Team Hydro. Complement Alternative Pathway Initiation Contributes to Post-Hemorrhagic Hydrocephalus in a Neonatal GMH Model This award was supported by Team Hydro.

The Role of Pathogens and Non-Coding RNAs in Neonatal Hydrocephalus Validation of a Novel Implantable Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Flow Sensor Targeting Neuroinflammation in PHH: a Novel Immunomodulatory Approach This award was supported by Team Hydro.

Quantitative, Non-Invasive Shunt Flow Measurement for Improved Management of Shunted Hydrocephalus Utilizing Neurosurgical Specimens to Study Intraventricular Hemorrhage and the Feasibility of Targeted Gene Therapy This award was supported by Team Hydro. Leveraging a Cortical Spheroid System to Understand the Pathogenesis of Hydrocephalus This award was funded by the Rudi Schulte Research Institute.

Improving neonatal hydrocephalus diagnosis, treatment, and prevention through metagenomics and genetic characterization in Ugandan cohorts. This award was funded by the Rudi Schulte Research Institute. Histotripsy for the treatment of hydrocephalus.

This award was supported by Team Hydro. Automated Volumetric Measurements for Early Diagnosis and Identification of Fetal Hydrocephalus Requiring Intervention. MicroRNA regulation of neural fate specification in congenital hydrocephalus.

The MicroMRNA, MIR9 as a Network Regulator in Hydrocephalus. Cellular and Molecular Characterization of Human and Porcine Choroid Plexus to study Post-Hemorrhagic Hydrocephalus (PHH). This award was supported by Team Hydro.

Amniotic fluid and CSF Factors Responsible for Hydrocephalus and Altered Brain Development in Myelomeningocele. Identify common genetic pathways between neural tube defects. Identify the barriers which exist for patients with childhood hydrocephalus in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).

Determine the most effective treatment window and dose for a previously determined therapeutic target of Post-Hemmorhagic Hydrocephalus. This award was supported by Team Hydro. (1) Understand how the secretion and barrier functions of the choroid plexus are altered in response to inflammation.

(2) Develop shunt catheters with topographical changes to reduce shunt obstructions. (3) Develop a patient-specific computational model and test ventricular catheters, placement, and outcomes with it to improve predictive capabilities of ventricular failure.

Identify novel genes and pathways implicated in Post-Hemorrhagic Hydrocephalus (PHH) and identify potential biomarkers of PHH as well as explore potential drugs already developed which can be repurposed to target PHH. This award was supported by Team Hydro. Understand a disease pathway in Post-Hemmorhagic Hydrocephalus and analyze a potential therapeutic target.

This award was supported by Team Hydro. Identify a disease pathway that could be targeted therapeutically to potentially minimize white matter damage in Post-Hemmorhagic Hydrocephalus. Epidemiology Challenge Award HA launched the Epidemiology Challenge Award in 2024, aimed to develop reliable data on the epidemiology and economic impact of adult hydrocephalus.

Comprehensive Epidemiological and Economic Assessment of Non-Normal Pressure Adult Hydrocephalus (NNPAH) in the United States Engineering in Hydrocephalus Prize The Engineering in Hydrocephalus Prize was created to award undergraduate or graduate research projects focused on engineering solutions for hydrocephalus.

This award aims to encourage the next generation of scientists to think creatively and design projects that address the challenges of hydrocephalus. Awardees also receive mentorship opportunities by experts in the fields of bioengineering and hydrocephalus. With this award, we strive to increase diverse perspectives within our research ecosystem.

Ahmad Alhayek, Neal Tsai, Jess Goldberg, and Nicholas Demetriou (NeuraVita) are developing a small, non-invasive device that attaches to shunts and uses gentle vibrations to help prevent blockages. Yihan Wu developed a new, non-invasive MRI technique called velocity-selective spin labeling (VSSL) to safely visualize CSF flow in the brain.

Fabian Flürenbrock developed a smart shunt research platform that could be used to test CSF flow dynamics and regulate intracranial pressure. Yuli Wang developed an advanced artificial intelligence (AI)-based deep learning model to improve the accuracy of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) diagnosis using medical imaging and clinical data.

Haritosh Patel and Amy Huang have developed a new design for ventricular catheters (VCs) to address the high failure rates in hydrocephalus treatment, where current VCs often get blocked or infected. Bianka Valecruz developed a physical system to mimic the dynamic pressure, flow, and conditions within the brain. This provides a platform to analyze intracranial pressure and CSF flow in real-time in a controlled environment.

[Formerly named the Young Investigator Travel Award] The National Conference on Hydrocephalus (HA CONNECT) brings together renowned clinicians and scientists with the hydrocephalus patient community. The Conference is an ideal place for young investigators to meet the patients and families affected by hydrocephalus and hopefully strengthen their commitment to a career focused on hydrocephalus.

However, few scientists or medical professionals in training are able to attend. The Next Generation Scientists Travel Award aims to encourage the next generation of hydrocephalus researchers to attend and allows them the opportunity to present their research.

Neuropsychiatric Symptoms Associated with Ventriculoperitoneal Shunts: A Multicenter Trinetx Analysis Factors Influencing Risk and Resilience in Caregivers of Children with Hydrocephalus Headaches and Hydrocephalus: The Patient Experience The Effects of Hydrocephalus on Cerebellar and Brainstem Size and the Subsequent Effects on Gait and Balance AAV-Driven Choroid Plexus Epithelial Cell Ablation Significantly Reduces Ventricular Volume and Improves Survival in a Mouse Model of Neonatal Hydrocephalus CSFlow: Applications of Zwitterionic Polymers to Increase the Biocompatibility and Hydrophilicity of Silicone Hydrocephalus Shunts Passive Wireless Flow Sensing for Hydrocephalus Valves Initial Results from SCEMPI: An Early Phase Clinical Trial for Neurorepair with High Dose Melatonin and Erythropoietin for Very Preterm Infants with IVH Developing a Testing System to Improve Shunt Blockages Novel Ventricular Catheter for Drainage of Intraventricular Hemorrhage Developing a genetic tool to treat infant hydrocephalus Modeling Brain Fluid Dynamics with Shunts Noninvasive Measurement of CSF Flow Modeling Congenital Hydrocephalus in Tadpoles Modeling Candidate Congenital Hydrocephalus Genes in Frogs The movement of molecules when cerebrospinal fluid is produced Design of Non-obstructive Self-cleaning Ventricular Shunt Predicting CSF Production Using Blood Pressure: A Rat Model Long Term Benefits with a Novel Drug Treatment in a Rat Model of Post-Hemorrhagic Hydrocephalus of Prematurity Posthemorrhagic Hydrocephalus Slows Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Movement in Rats CSF hypersecretion in a genetic mouse model of congenital hydrocephalus A role of the Immune System in Hydrocephalus Following Brain Bleeds in a Neonatal Mouse Model Bleeding Can Increase Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Secretion Ventricular enlargement and NPH symptoms in mice Altered Genes regulating DNA Handling in Congenital Hydrocephalus A Mouse Model of Post-Infectious Hydrocephalus: Stem Cell Zone Damage and Repair An Inexpensive Way to Observe Initial Shunt Obstruction The Role of GPR39 (Protein G) in Hemorrhage-Induced Hydrocephalus Self-clearing catheter for rapid ventricular hemorrhage clearance Brain Monitoring to predict surgical outcome Hydrocephalus Association Cynthia Solomon Resident’s Prize The Hydrocephalus Association (HA) promotes research and leadership in hydrocephalus is through our annual resident’s prizes.

The HA Cynthia Solomon Resident’s Prize is awarded each year to the most promising hydrocephalus-related research paper presented by a neurosurgical resident at the Pediatric Section meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons (AANS/CNS). The prize is designed to encourage young doctors to focus their research efforts on advancing treatment and care of individuals with hydrocephalus.

Cynthia Solomon, a co-founder and enduring advocate of HA, conceived the concept of the Resident’s Prize in 1998 to motivate neurosurgical residents to actively participate in research endeavors. To pay tribute to Cynthia's profound influence, this award underwent a renaming during our 40th anniversary celebrations in 2023.

It will now be officially known as The Hydrocephalus Association Cynthia Solomon Resident’s Prize , encapsulating her lasting legacy and dedication to advancing hydrocephalus research.

2025 Cynthia Solomon Resident’s Prize in Hydrocephalus Project title: Early Intervention for Neonatal Intraventricular Hemorrhage:… 2024 Cynthia Solomon Resident’s Prize in Hydrocephalus Project title: Proteomic Insights into Blood-CSF Barrier Disruption… 2023 Cynthia Solomon Resident’s Prize in Hydrocephalus PROJECT TITLE: Quantitative Non-Invasive Measurement of Cerebrospinal Fluid… 2022 Cynthia Solomon Resident’s Prize in Hydrocephalus PROJECT TITLE: Re-evaluation of ETV Success Score in… AHCIS & HA Kenneth McKenzie Award The Adult Hydrocephalus, Chiari & ICP Society (AHCIS) & Hydrocephalus Association (HA) Kenneth McKenzie Award is presented each year to the most outstanding hydrocephalus-related research abstract presented by a neurosurgical resident or fellow to promote research in adult hydrocephalus.

The award is designed to encourage residents and fellows to focus their research efforts on advancing treatment and care of adults with hydrocephalus. This award honors Dr. Kenneth George McKenzie (1892–1964), who was Canada’s first dedicated neurosurgeon. Dr. McKenzie brought techniques from the U.S. back to Toronto in 1923.

He laid the foundation for Canadian neurosurgical training, which eventually enabled specialized adult hydrocephalus care.

2026 AHCIS & HA Kenneth McKenzie Award Project title: Effectiveness of Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy for… All Past Grantees and Programs Improving Patient Care Now We support two multicenter clinical research networks, the pediatric-focused Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network (HCRN) and the Adult HCRN (AHCRN).

These networks of highly skilled clinician-scientists are changing how hydrocephalus clinical research is conducted and producing high quality, high impact studies at an unprecedented pace. Bringing the Patient Voice to Research The HA Patient-Powered Interactive Engagement Registry (HAPPIER) is an online database that was developed by HA and created to bring the patient perspective to hydrocephalus research.

HAPPIER currently collects information on the treatment and symptoms, health, and quality of life of people living with hydrocephalus.

Communication and Collaboration Among Hydrocephalus Casic and Translational Researchers The Hydrocephalus Association Network for Discovery Science (HANDS) is a platform for both communication and collaboration among hydrocephalus basic and translational researchers with a focus on mentorship, innovation, and shared infrastructure.

Through HANDS we award research grants to individual investigators conducting innovative research and also hold research conferences and workshops that are designed to promote collaboration and identify promising new opportunities. Was this resource helpful? Thanks for your feedback!