Abhishek Deshpande, MD, PhD

2009 Mentored Young Investigator Award Recipient

TITLE: Assistant Staff, Cleveland Clinic

STUDY TITLE: Effects of VEGF agonist (rVEGF) and VEGF antagonist (Bevacizumab) treatment on cerebrovascular density and permeability, and learning in a kaolin model of hydrocephalus.

Overview:

At the time of his award, Abhishek Deshpande was a PhD candidate in cellular and molecular biology. In 2010, Dr. Deshpande began a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Deshpande is currently an Assistant Staff at Cleveland Clinic, Department of Medicine with a joint appointment in the Department of Infectious Diseases. Dr. Deshpande earned his medical degree from Manipal University, India and his PhD in cellular and molecular biology from Kent State University/Cleveland Clinic Collaborative Program.

Chronic adult hydrocephalus (CH) is a leading cause of preventable neurological injury. Although the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatments of CH are poorly understood, decreased oxygen in the brain through blood vessel compression and formation of new vessels may play a role in injury and recovery. We hypothesize that treatment with the drug bevacizumab will inhibit new vessel formation and thereby limit vessel permeability and fluid exchange in the cranium.

MENTOR: Mark Luciano, MD, PhD