University of Colorado Researcher Dr. Mohammed Alshareef Receives Prestigious Innovator Award for Hydrocephalus Research
Bethesda, MD – The Hydrocephalus Association (HA) proudly announces that Mohammed Alshareef, BSE, MD, an assistant professor of neurosurgery at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, has been named a recipient of the esteemed 2024 Hydrocephalus Association Innovator Awards. This prestigious award provides critical funding to trailblazing scientists who are pushing the boundaries of hydrocephalus research and treatment.
Dr. Alshareef’s project, “Complement Alternative Pathway Initiation Contributes to Post-Hemorrhagic Hydrocephalus in a Neonatal GMH Model,” aims to uncover the mechanisms that lead to hydrocephalus in infants following brain hemorrhages. Hydrocephalus, a condition characterized by the buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, affects over one million Americans. Newborns with brain bleeds are especially vulnerable, and Dr. Alshareef’s research could pave the way for new therapies that prevent hydrocephalus from developing in this at-risk population.
Dr. Alshareef’s innovative approach highlights the interplay between the immune system and hydrocephalus, exploring how immune responses may inadvertently contribute to the condition. By identifying these triggers, his research holds the promise of developing treatments that could save countless infants from a lifetime of challenges associated with hydrocephalus.
“Dr. Alshareef’s work exemplifies the groundbreaking research we aim to support through the Innovator Awards,” said Dr. Monica Chau, HA’s National Director of Research Programs. “His focus on understanding the root causes of hydrocephalus in newborns could lead to transformative breakthroughs in how this condition is prevented and treated. We are proud to support his dedication to improving outcomes for the hydrocephalus community.”
The Hydrocephalus Association Innovator Awards are made possible through partnerships with Team Hydro and the Rudi Schulte Research Institute. These awards fund bold research ideas that address critical challenges in the field. Since their inception, they have empowered researchers like Dr. Alshareef to pursue new directions in understanding and treating hydrocephalus.
For more information on Dr. Alshareef’s research and the Innovator Awards, visit: https://www.hydroassoc.org/2024-innovator-awards-hydrocephalus-research/.
About the Hydrocephalus Association
Founded in 1983 by parents of children with hydrocephalus, the Hydrocephalus Association (HA) is the largest organization in the U.S. dedicated to hydrocephalus research, education, and advocacy. HA has invested over $16.4 million in research since 2009, with a mission to find a cure and improve the lives of those impacted by hydrocephalus.