Past 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.
Our Past Grantees
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.
Innovator Award
About the Award
Ryann Fame, PhD
Identify common genetic pathways between neural tube defects.
Read MoreOlufemi Idowu, MBBS, FWACS, FACS
Identify the barriers which exist for patients with childhood hydrocephalus in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).
Read MoreRamin Eskandari, MD
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.
Read MoreCarolyn A. Harris, PhD
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.
Read MoreGabriel Haller, PhD
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.
Read MoreJames (Pat) McAllister II, PhD
Understand a disease pathway in Post-Hemmorhagic Hydrocephalus and analyze a potential therapeutic target.
This award was supported by Team Hydro.
Read MoreMaria Lehtinen, PhD
Identify a disease pathway that could be targeted therapeutically to potentially minimize white matter damage in Post-Hemmorhagic Hydrocephalus.
Read MoreJustin Cetas, MD, PhD
The role of the P450 eicosanoids in the development of hydrocephalus
Read MoreSheng Chih (Peter) Jin, PhD
A genome wide assessment of noncoding risk variants in congenital hydrocephalus
Read MoreMats Tullberg, MD, PhD
Utility of 3D gait analysis in reference to clinical assessments to detect significant change after a CSF taptest in patients investigated for iNPH
Read MoreJoanne Conover, PhD
Single – Cell Multiplex Characteriszation of Inflammartory Response in Congenital Post-Infectious Hydrocephalus
This award was funded by the Rudi Schulte Research Institute.
Read MoreBonnie Blazer-Yost, PhD
Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Characterization of a Novel Pharmacotherapy for the Treatment of Hydrocephalus
This award was supported by Team Hydro.
Read MoreStavros Taraviras, PhD
2020 Innovator Award Recipient TITLE: Professor INSTITUTION: University of Patras GOAL: Dr. Taraviras is working…
Read MoreJose Peiro, MD, PhD
2020 Innovator Award Recipient TITLE: Professor, UC Department of Surgery INSTITUTION: University of Cincinnati GOAL: Dr.…
Read MoreAditya Pandey, MD
2020 Innovator Award Recipient TITLE: Professor, Neurological Surgery INSTITUTION: University of Michigan GOAL: Dr. Pandey…
Read MoreCarolyn A. Harris, PhD
2020 Innovator Award Recipient TITLE: Assistant Professor INSTITUTION: Wayne State University GOAL: Dr. Caroyln Harris…
Read MoreBrandon A. Miller, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, University of Kentucky
This project will determine if antioxidant therapy can reduce brain injury after intraventricular hemorrhage and post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (IVH/PHH). IVH/PHH occurs in preterm infants, and leads to oxidative stress and brain injury.
Read MoreBernadette Holdener, PhD
2019 Innovator Award Recipient TITLE: Associate Professor, Stony Brook University GOAL: Understanding how disturbances in…
Read MoreJoel Geerling, MD, PhD
2019 Innovator Award Recipient TITLE: Assistant Professor, University of Iowa GOAL: Developing symptom-specific therapies for…
Read MoreEngin Deniz, MD
2019 Innovator Award Recipient TITLE: Assistant Professor, Yale University GOAL: Understanding the role of cilia…
Read MoreKathleen J. Millen, PhD
2018 Innovator Award Recipient TITLE: Professor, Seattle Children’s Hospital & University of Washington GOAL: Test…
Read MoreCarolyn A. Harris, PhD
2018 Innovator Award Recipient TITLE: Assistant Professor, Wayne State University GOAL: Creating a shunt catheter…
Read MoreJames M. Drake, BSE, MBBCh, MSc, FRCSC, FACS
2018 Innovator Award Recipient TITLE: Head of Neurosurgery, Hospital for Sick Children GOAL: Using Focused…
Read MoreHannah Tully, MD, MSc
2017 Innovator Award Recipient TITLE: Assistant Professor, University of Washington GOAL: Identify markers for infants…
Read MoreJennifer Strahle, MD
2017 Innovator Award Recipient TITLE: Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery, Washington University GOAL: Understanding how…
Read MoreDavid Limbrick, MD, PhD
2017 Innovator Award Recipient TITLE: Chief of Pediatric Neurological Surgery, Washington University GOAL: Identify the…
Read MoreKristopher Kahle, MD, PhD
2017 Innovator Award Recipient TITLE: Associate Professor, Yale School of Medicine GOAL: Understand the role…
Read MoreJune Goto, PhD
2017 Innovator Award Recipient TITLE: Research Instructor, Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center GOAL: Understand the mechanisms…
Read MoreAristotelis Filippidis, MD, PhD
2017 Innovator Award Recipient TITLE: Neurosurgery Resident, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center GOAL: Identify markers…
Read MoreYan Ding, PhD
2017 Innovator Award Recipient TITLE: Research Associate, Loma Linda University GOAL: Understand how Germinal Matrix…
Read MoreJoanne Conover, PhD
2017 Innovator Award Recipient TITLE: Associate Professor, University of Connecticut GOAL: Investigate the Disease Progression…
Read MoreJennifer Strahle, MD
2016 Innovator Award Recipient TITLE: Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery, Washington University GOAL: Early intervention…
Read MoreShenandoah Robinson, MD
2016 Innovator Award Recipient TITLE: Professor of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University GOAL: Understand molecular mechanisms…
Read MoreKristopher Kahle, MD, PhD
2016 Innovator Award Recipient TITLE: Associate Professor, Yale School of Medicine GOAL: Understand the role…
Read MoreMichael Piper, PhD
2015 Innovator Award Recipient TITLE: Australian Research Council Future Fellow, University of Queensland GOAL: Understand…
Read MoreJames ‘Pat’ McAllister, PhD
2015 Innovator Award Recipient TITLE: Professor, Washington University School of Medicine GOAL: Improve outcomes in…
Read MoreAndreas Linninger, PhD
2015 Innovator Award Recipient TITLE: Professor of Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago GOAL: …
Read MoreLance Lee, PhD
2015 Innovator Award Recipient TITLE: Faculty Member, Sanford Research GOAL: Identify Risk Modifiers in the…
Read MoreJune Goto, PhD
2015 Innovator Award Recipient TITLE: Research Instructor, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center GOAL: Insights into…
Read MoreMarc Del Bigio, MD, PhD, FRCPC
2015 Innovator Award Recipient TITLE: Professor University of Manitoba GOAL: Preventing Neural Damage in Hydrocephalus…
Read MoreBonnie Blazer-Yost, PhD
2015 Innovator Award Recipient TITLE: Professor of Biology, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis GOAL: …
Read MoreDiscovery Science Awards
About the Award
Discovery Science Awards provide multiyear support for high quality, innovative, and timely research projects by established investigators. The goals of this grant are to expand the scope of promising research studies, increase a lab’s focus on hydrocephalus, and involve junior investigators in conducting the research through a substantial multiyear commitment. In 2018, the Discovery Science Awards were focused on posthemorrhagic and postinfectious hydrocephalus research.
Yun Yung, PhD
2018 Discovery Science Award Recipient TITLE: Assistant Professor, Scintillon Institute GOAL: Test a new way…
Read MoreDavid Limbrick, MD, PhD
2018 Discovery Science Award Recipient TITLE: Professor, Washington University in St. Louis GOAL: Test a…
Read MoreMaria Lehtinen, PhD
2018 Discovery Science Award Recipient TITLE: Associate Professor, Boston Children’s Hospital Overview: Dr. Maria Lehtinen…
Read MoreR. Reid Townsend, MD, PhD
2018 Discovery Science Award Recipient TITLE: Professor, Washington University Overview: Dr. R. Reid Townsend is…
Read MoreKristopher Kahle, MD, PhD
2018 Discovery Science Award Recipient
Read MoreMark Wagshul, PhD
2013 Discovery Science Award Recipient 2013 HA/RSRI Award Recipient TITLE: Associate Professor, The Albert Einstein…
Read MoreTimothy Vogel, MD
2013 Discovery Science Award Recipient 2013 Established Investigator TITLE: Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Hackensack University…
Read MoreJames P. (Pat) McAllister, PhD
2011 Discovery Science Award Recipient 2011 Established Investigator TITLE: Professor of Neurosurgery and Director of…
Read MoreMiles Johnston, PhD
2011 Discovery Science Award Recipient 2011 Established Investigator TITLE: Professor Emeritus of Laboratory Medicine and…
Read MoreCynthia Solomon Resident's Prize in Hydrocephalus
About the Award
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.
2023: Peter Chiarelli, MD, DPhil
Quantitative Non-Invasive Measurement of Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow in Shunted Hydrocephalus
2022: Leonard Verhey, MD, PhD
Re-evaluation of ETV Success Score in Children with Hydrocephalus: Multicentered cohort study of Clinical Research Network.
2021: Michael M. McDowell, MD
2020: Mohammed Alshareef, MD
Complement Activation Leads to Worse Cognitive Outcomes Following Germinal Matrix Hemorrhage in a Chronic Mouse Model.
2019: Cameron Sadegh, MD
Intraventricular Hemorrhage Induces Rapid Intracellular Signaling in the Choroid Plexus and Chronic Changes in CSF Reabsorption.
2018: Elizabeth Kuhn, MD
Cross-sectional evaluation of transition readiness in the interdisciplinary spina bifida clinic
2017: Shawn Vuong, MD
CRISPR/Cas9-Based Development of progressive hydrocephaly (prh) Rat Model of Hydrocephalus
2016: Jonathan Jay Stone, MD
Treatment of Hydrocephalus in an Ovine Model with an Intraparenchymal Stent Prototype
2015: Brian Hanak, MD
Toward a better understanding of the cellular basis for cerebrospinal fluid shunt obstruction: report on the construction of a bank of explanted hydrocephalus devices
2014: Jason Blatt, MD
Incidence of Delayed Hydrocephalus Following In-Utero Myelomeningocele Repair
2013: Jennifer Strahle, MD
Early Treatment of Neonatal Intraventricular Hemorrhage-Associated Hydrocephalus with Systemic Deferoxamine
2012: Jayant P. Menon, MD
Significant Shunt Obstruction Caused by Parenchymal Tissue Shearing During Ventricular Catheter Implantation
2011: Ashley Tian, MD
Bilateral High-Grade Intraventricular Hemorrhage is Associated with Male Sex, Younger Gestational Age and Lower Birth Weight, But Not Other Perinatal Factors
2010: Ramin Eskandari, MD
Effects of Early and Late Reservoir Treatment in Experimental Neonatal Hydrocephalus
2009: Christopher Janson, MD
Immortalization and Functional Characterization of Rat Arachnoid Cells
2008: Ellen Air, MD
A longitudinal comparison of pre- and postoperative DTI parameters in young hydrocephalic children
2006: Kurtis Auguste, MD
Greatly Impaired Migration of Aquaporin 4 Deficient Astrogial Cells after Implantation into a Mouse Brain
2005: Jeffrey Greenfield, MD
Intraoperative Assessment of Third Ventriculostomy Success
2004: Jeff Pugh, MD
Can the skull Diploic space be utilized for Absorption of Cerebrospinal Fluid?
& Jay Riva-Cambrin, MD
Pediatric Posterior Fossa Tumors
2003: Martin Schumann, MD
Serum and CSF C-Reactive Protein in Shunt Infection Management
2002: Joshua Medow, MD
Quick Brain MRI verses CT scan for evaluating Shunted Hydrocephalus
2002: Jonathon Miller, MD
Aberrant Neuronal Development in Hydrocephalus
2001: Jake Timothy, MD
Treatment of Hydrocephalus Using a Choroid Plexus Specific Immunotoxin: an in vitro Study
1999: Kimberly Bingaman, MD
Hydrocephalus Induces the Proliferation of Cells in the Subventricular Zone
1998: Daniel Lieberman, MD
In Vitro Detection of fluid Flow in Ventriculoperitonal Shunts Using contrast Enhanced Ultrasound
1996: Martha Johnson, PhD.
Dr. Johnson studied the effects of hydrocephalus on animals, primarily canine, to determine the extent of brain damage inflicted when fluid exerts pressure on the brain.
1995: Richard Fox, MD
Cerebrospinal Fluid Absorptive Site of the Parasagittal Dura
1994: Monica Wehby-Grant, MD
The rabbit Model for Infantile Hydrocephalus: Regional Differences in the Cortical Metabolic Response to Hydrocephalus and to shunting
1993: Charles Bondurant, MD
The Epidemiology of Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunting
1992: Marcia DaSilva, MD
Reversal of High Energy Phosphate Metabolism changes in Experimental Hydrocephalus after CSF Shunting
1991: Nesher Asner, MD
Venous sinus Occlusion and Ventriculomegaly in Craniectomized Rabbits
1990: S.D. Michowiz, MD
High energy Phosphate Metabolism in Neonatal Hydrocephalus
1989: Eric Altschuler, MD
Management of Persistent Ventriculomegaly due to Altered Brain Compliance
Next Generation Scientists Travel Award
About the 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. This award aims to encourage the next generation of hydrocephalus researchers to attend and allows them the opportunity to present their research.
Bianka Valecruz
Developing a Testing System to Improve Shunt Blockages
Read MoreRiccardo Serra, MD
Novel Ventricular Catheter for Drainage of Intraventricular Hemorrhage
Read MoreGwen Sebring, BS
Developing a genetic tool to treat infant hydrocephalus
Read MoreChris Roberts, MS
Modeling Brain Fluid Dynamics with Shunts
Read MoreBrady Rivkin
Noninvasive Measurement of CSF Flow
Read MoreElizabeth Ricci, BS
Modeling Congenital Hydrocephalus in Tadpoles
Read MoreLeah Pendl-Robinson, BS
Modeling Candidate Congenital Hydrocephalus Genes in Frogs
Read MoreVerayna Newland, BS
The movement of molecules when cerebrospinal fluid is produced
Read MoreAmy Huang, BASc
Design of Non-obstructive Self-cleaning Ventricular Shunt
Read MoreJeff Horbatiuk, BS
Predicting CSF Production Using Blood Pressure: A Rat Model
Read MoreTim Heck, MD
Long Term Benefits with a Novel Drug Treatment in a Rat Model of Post-Hemorrhagic Hydrocephalus of Prematurity
Read MoreHawley Helmbrecht, PhD
Posthemorrhagic Hydrocephalus Slows Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Movement in Rats
Read MoreTyrone DeSpenza Jr., BA
CSF hypersecretion in a genetic mouse model of congenital hydrocephalus
Read MoreTyler Vasas, BS
A role of the Immune System in Hydrocephalus Following Brain Bleeds in a Neonatal Mouse Model
Read MorePengfei Liang, PhD
Bleeding Can Increase Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Secretion
Read MoreMargaret Tish, BS
Ventricular enlargement and NPH symptoms in mice
Read MoreKedous Y. Mekbib, BS
Altered Genes regulating DNA Handling in Congenital Hydrocephalus
Read MoreJulianna Herman, MS
A Mouse Model of Post-Infectious Hydrocephalus: Stem Cell Zone Damage and Repair
Read MoreJeff Horbatiuk
An Inexpensive Way to Observe Initial Shunt Obstruction
Read MoreDavid Mazur-Hart, MD
The Role of GPR39 (Protein G) in Hemorrhage-Induced Hydrocephalus
Read MoreAngel Enriquez, BA
Self-clearing catheter for rapid ventricular hemorrhage clearance
Read MoreAjay Rajaram, PhD
Brain Monitoring to predict surgical outcome
Read MoreA. Scott Emmert, BS
(Gene) Talking About Hydrocephalus: Development of a New Rat Model of Neonatal Hydrocephalus
Jeffrey Horbatiuk
Re-imaging the FLO of the ventricle
Eri Iwasawa, MD, PhD
Inflammation and Impaired Neural Differentiation in CCDC39 Rat Model of Neonatal Hydrocephalus
Jason Karimy, MS
A role for inflammation: TLR-4-mediated cerebrospinal fluid hypersecretion in post-hemorrhagic and post-infectious hydrocephalus
Riccardo Serra, MD
Evaluating the effects of CSF proteins on valves and anti-siphoning devices in a benchtop shunt system
Margaret Tish, BS
Neuronal characterization of hydrocephalic symptoms
Joseph "Tyler" Vasas, BSEE
Glial Scar Formation And Concomitant Glymphatic Impairment In The Hydrocephalic Brain
Vanessa Wall, MA, MS
Social-emotional outcomes in children with hydrocephalus
Kathryn Woods, MS
Microglial Secreted IL-10 Mediates Increase in Neuron Death following S. epidermidis Biofilm Exposure
Kathrin Zimmerman, BA
Depression, Anxiety, Fatigue and Resilience in Children with Hydrocephalus
Kathrin Zimmerman, BA
2018 Young Investigator Travel Award Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Caregivers of Pediatric Hydrocephalus Patients
Read MoreShawn M. Vuong, MD
2018 Young Investigator Travel Award A new rat model of congenital hydrocephalus
Read MoreRawad Obeid, MD
2018 Young Investigator Travel Award An Early Diagnostic Tool for Hydrocephalus in Premature Newborns
Read MoreWhitney S. McDonald, PhD
2018 Young Investigator Travel Award Altered DNA content in Hydrocephalus
Read MoreEyal Lotan, MD
2018 Young Investigator Travel Award MRI Features of High Volume Lumbar Puncture (HVLP): Responders Compared…
Read MoreJoyce Koueik, MD
2018 Young Investigator Travel Award Anti-Siphon Devices decease the rate of proximal shunt obstruction surgery
Read MoreAlbert Isaacs, MD
2018 Young Investigator Travel Award Quantification and Differentiation of Periventricular White Matter (PVWM) Injury in…
Read MoreJeff Horbatiuk
2018 Young Investigator Travel Award Using Super Glue to Strengthen Current Shunts
Read MoreAlexandra E. Hochstetler
2018 Young Investigator Travel Award Preventing hydrocephalus in genetic animal models
Read MoreLeandro Castaneyra-Ruiz, PhD
2018 Young Investigator Travel Award Impact of blood on the connections between the cells that…
Read MoreMentored Young Investigator Award
About the Award
The MYI Award program was run in 2009 and 2010 with the dual purpose of funding promising research relevant to hydrocephalus while fostering the development of young researchers. The award helps ensure that qualified young scientists enter the field of hydrocephalus research and receive research training and experience under the guidance of highly trained, well-respected researchers who have demonstrated success in their field.
Jay Riva-Cambrin, MD, MSc
2010 Mentored Young Investigator Award Recipient TITLE: Associate Professor, University of Utah/Primary Children’s Hospital STUDY…
Read MoreSonia Podvin, PhD
2010 Mentored Young Investigator Award Recipient Kate Finlayson Memorial Research Grant TITLE: Post-Doctoral Fellow, University…
Read MoreYun Yung, PhD
2009 Mentored Young Investigator Award Recipient TITLE: Research Associate, The Scripps Research Institute STUDY TITLE:…
Read MoreJoon W. (Simon) Shim, PhD
2009 Mentored Young Investigator Award Recipient TITLE: Visiting Faculty, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis STUDY TITLE:…
Read MoreRamin Eskandari, MD
2009 Mentored Young Investigator Award Recipient TITLE: Clinical Instructor of Neurosurgery, Stanford and Lucile Packard…
Read MoreAbhishek Deshpande, MD, PhD
2009 Mentored Young Investigator Award Recipient TITLE: Assistant Staff, Cleveland Clinic STUDY TITLE: Effects of…
Read MoreDana Moore, PhD
2009 Mentored Young Investigator Award Recipient TITLE: Neuropsychologist STUDY TITLE: Quantitative measurement of ventricular volume…
Read More