Peter Chiarelli, MD, DPhil

2023 Cynthia Solomon Resident’s Prize in Hydrocephalus

PROJECT TITLE: Quantitative Non-Invasive Measurement of Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow in Shunted Hydrocephalus.

Dr. Peter A. Chiarelli is an assistant professor of neurological surgery at the University of Southern California (USC) and attending neurosurgeon at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). His study entitled “Quantitative Non-Invasive Measurement of Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow in Shunted Hydrocephalus” focuses on the evaluation of shunt failure, which is a concern in managing patients with shunts. He developed a quantitative phase-contrast (PC) MRI sequence to measure cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow through the shunt lumen. The work aims to demonstrate PC MRI as a valuable adjunct in the clinical monitoring of shunted patients.

At CHLA, he founded the CSF-flow Dynamics Group (CFDG), a collaborative effort dedicated to using advanced imaging and innovative techniques to address practical issues in hydrocephalus treatment. The group comprises physicians, surgeons, MRI physicists, nurses, and students, all committed to enhancing patient-centered care and advancing our understanding of fluid physiology in the brain. Dr. Chiarelli also founded the Nanoscaled Neuro-technology Research Group (NNRG) at CHLA. This lab focuses on designing nanotherapeutic modalities with the goal of making brain tumor surgery unnecessary in the future. As a board-certified pediatric neurosurgeon by the American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS), Dr. Chiarelli actively contributes to organizations such as the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium, and the Pacific Pediatric Neuro-oncology Consortium.