{"id":38605,"date":"2025-03-21T14:47:34","date_gmt":"2025-03-21T18:47:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hydroassoc.org\/?page_id=38605"},"modified":"2025-04-02T14:36:06","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T18:36:06","slug":"non-invasive-treatments-priorities","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.hydroassoc.org\/non-invasive-treatments-priorities\/","title":{"rendered":"Non-Invasive Therapies to Improve Hydrocephalus Outcomes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\n\t\tResearch Priorities for Non-Invasive Therapies to Improve Hydrocephalus Outcomes\n\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\"Screenshot\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Research\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead Study Here\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t

Hydrocephalus presents significant challenges, and treatment typically involves brain surgery and shunts. However, shunts have one of the highest failure rates among medical devices, leading to tens of thousands of hospital admissions for shunt failures annually. Since there is no drug treatment currently available for hydrocephalus, the only treatment options are all invasive. To improve care and quality of life, our top Community Research Priorities<\/a> is to develop non-invasive treatments for hydrocephalus <\/b>(e.g. a drug or gene therapy).<\/p>\n

We organized two research workshops dedicated to advancing non-invasive hydrocephalus treatments, collaborating with scientists, clinicians, patients, funding agencies, and industry representatives. From these workshops, we published Research priorities for non-invasive therapies to improve hydrocephalus outcomes<\/a><\/em> in the journal Fluids and Barriers of the CNS<\/em>. This work emphasizes our commitment to accelerating progress towards finding safer and more effective treatments for those living with hydrocephalus.<\/p>\n

\n\t\tThe topics below represent important areas of research in order to create non-invasive treatments for hydrocephalus\n\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\"research\"\n

\n\t\tTheme 1: Determine how cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) works in the brain to create treatments\n\t<\/h3>\n\t

Develop research models to understand the roles of CSF in the brain.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\tSee Priorities<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Priority 1:<\/strong> Understand how the tissues involved in the production and release of CSF influence:<\/p>\n(1.1) CSF makeup and movement
\n(1.2) inflammation
\n(1.3) brain development\n

Priority 2:<\/strong> Create small and large animal (preclinical) research models to find treatments that:<\/p>\n(2.1) treat the root cause of hydrocephalus
\n(2.2) decrease the damage done by CSF buildup
\n(2.3) prevent long-term damage from hydrocephalus\n\t\t\t\t\"data\"\n

\n\t\tTheme 2: Use existing data to identify hydrocephalus treatment targets\n\t<\/h3>\n\t

Understand the effects of hydrocephalus across the population through the use of large patient datasets.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\tSee Priorities<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Priority 3:<\/strong> Combine different modes of scientific technologies to:<\/p>\n(3.1) identify changes in the brain that can be causing hydrocephalus
\n(3.2) perform large, multi-site studies to guide diagnostics and therapeutics
\n(3.3) collect, compile, and share data within hydrocephalus research groups
\n(3.4) train machine learning computer models to analyze complex data\n\t\t\t\t\"studies\"\n

\n\t\tTheme 3: Design preclinical (animal and cell) studies that can move into human studies\n\t<\/h3>\n\t

Focus efforts on advancing research into clinical trials.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\tSee Priorities<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Priority 4:<\/strong> Develop models of hydrocephalus, with a particular focus on age, type of hydrocephalus, symptoms, and outcomes<\/p>\n

Priority 5:<\/strong> Design clinical trials that focus on:<\/p>\n(5.1) patient outcomes
\n(5.2) unifying the research and clinical care teams
\n(5.3) collaboration across institutions\n\t

 <\/p>\n

For the more detailed priorities, see the publication \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\tWhy This Matters \n\t<\/h2>\n\t

This effort represents a key step toward developing safer, more effective treatments that can reduce the need for invasive procedures and improve management of the condition. Prioritizing our top Community Research Priorities<\/a> of developing non-invasive treatments for hydrocephalus is essential for advancing care and improving patient outcomes.<\/p>\n

To learn more about the Hydrocephalus Association’s overall research priorities, visit our Research Priorities page.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\r\n

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