Next Steps for the Adult Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network

Last week the Adult Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network (AHCRN) met in Salt Lake City, Utah, to discuss the progress and next steps for the network. Since the beginning of the Core Data Project in late 2014, the AHCRN has enrolled nearly 200 patients. The Core Data Project will collect patient demographics, hydrocephalus etiology, diagnostic information, and surgical and medical management information. This initial data will be used to understand the variability, progression, and current treatment practices for hydrocephalus in adults and inform the development of hypothesis-driven research.

The AHCRN is a network of four clinical centers in the US and Canada and expects to expand to two additional centers, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA, and The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, by the end of the year. By building a larger network, the AHCRN will be able to conduct high-quality, high impact research more quickly leading to improvement in the lives of those living with the condition.

The AHCRN is chaired by Mark Hamilton, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Adult Hydrocephalus Program at the University of Calgary. He is joined by an exceptionally dedicated group of neurosurgeons, neurologists, and a neuropsychologist from 5 additional centers.