Congenital Hydrocephalus and Research
Congenital hydrocephalus is a condition usually marked by an excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the cerebral ventricles resulting in ventricular enlargement. This condition affects between 0.48 to 0.81 infants per 1000 live births and up to 78% of patients suffer persistent deficits after treatment, possibly due to reactive astrogliosis and microgliosis. Examining this gliosis was the focus of much of my research thus far. My research is currently focusing on genetic links to hydrocephalus. Please read below for more information on my different research projects.
Gliosis in hydrocephalus
Previous studies have shown that there is an increase in glial cells (specifically astrocytes and microglia) due to hydrocephalus. I was able to show that shunting, or insertion of a draining device, effectively reduces the presence of glial cells.
Genetic work
Not much is known about the genetics behind aqueductal stenosis. In 2006, I finished working on a gene chip array study and was able to identify 23 genes that were significantly altered in the hydrocephalic animals when compared to their age matched controls. Of these genes, 7 of these genes were previously linked to hydrocephalus! This was very exciting information. The abstract can be found by following this link; this will summarize the study and the findings:
Cerebral Spinal Fluid research PDF
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez
Current research project
I am currently working on more closely examining the activity of these previously identified and hydrocephalus related genes. By studying the protein levels that the genes encode, one can determine what alterations or changes are going to have an effect on the body. I received a research grant of just under $40,000 over two years to study this protein correlation.
My research is funded by a wonderful parent support group, STARS (Seeking Techniques Advancing Research in Shunts) based out of Detroit. Countless amounts of information and important links can be found on their website www.stars-kids.org.
