Kathleen J. Millen, PhD

2018 Innovator Award Recipient

TITLE: Professor, Seattle Children’s Hospital & University of Washington

GOAL: Test a new drug to stop the development of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus.

Overview:

Dr. Kathleen Millen is a professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine. She is also a Principle Investigator at the Seattle Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Center for Integrative Brain Research. Her research laboratory focuses on the genetic basis of early brain development mental retardation, autism and hydrocephalus. The first aim is to determine if the mechanisms responsible for the development of congenital hydrocephalus and posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) converge onto the same molecular pathway. The second aim is to test a small molecule drug already shown to be effective in the congenital hydrocephalus model on the PHH model. The ultimate goal is to determine if one drug treatment can be used in PHH and congenital hydrocephalus.