Research We Fund

By connecting basic, translational, and clinical researchers, HA is accelerating hydrocephalus research and working to fulfill our mission.

Bench to Bedside

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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.

Meet Our Latest Grantees

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.

Funding Opportunities

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.

2024 Recipient

Jeffrey Schaffert

Neuropsychological Phenotypes of Idiopathic Normal Pressure 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.

2024 Recipient

Albert Isaacs

Comprehensive Epidemiological and Economic Assessment of Non-Normal Pressure Adult Hydrocephalus (NNPAH) in the United States

Accelerator Award

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.

2024 Recipients

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.

Innovator Award

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.

2024 Recipients

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.

2023 Recipients

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.

2023 Innovator Awards

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.

2022 Recipients

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.

Understand how the secretion and barrier functions of the choroid plexus are altered in response to inflammation. Develop shunt catheters with topographical changes to reduce shunt obstructions. 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.

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.

2024 Recipients

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.

Next Generation Scientists Travel Award

[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.

2024 Recipients

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

2022 Recipients

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

Cynthia Solomon Resident's Prize in Hydrocephalus

One way the Hydrocephalus Association promotes research and leadership in hydrocephalus is through our annual Resident’s Prize. This 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 Cynthia Solomon Resident’s Prize in Hydrocephalus, encapsulating her lasting legacy and dedication to advancing hydrocephalus research.

2024 Recipient

2024 Cynthia Solomon Resident’s Prize in Hydrocephalus Project title: Proteomic Insights into Blood-CSF Barrier Disruption…

2023 Recipient

2023 Cynthia Solomon Resident’s Prize in Hydrocephalus PROJECT TITLE: Quantitative Non-Invasive Measurement of Cerebrospinal Fluid…

2022 Recipient

2022 Resident’s Prize in Hydrocephalus PROJECT TITLE: Re-evaluation of ETV Success Score in Children with…

Funding Opportunities

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.

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