University of Cincinnati
10/20/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/20/2026 13:39
Researchers test gene therapy as less invasive treatment for hydrocephalus
Researchers test gene therapy as less invasive treatment for hydrocephalus
UC College of Medicine work featured nationally
3 minute read October 20, 2026 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share on Reddit Print Story Like
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine say an experimental gene therapy could eventually lead to a less invasive treatment for hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess fluid accumulates in the brain.
The early-stage study, led by Agnes (Yu) Luo, PhD, professor and vice chair for research, was published in the journal Fluids and Barriers of the CNS. Yahoo! News recently featured it.
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. It helps protect the brain and carries nutrients and other important substances.
Hydrocephalus develops when too much of this fluid collects in the brain. The buildup can increase pressure, damage brain tissue and cause serious neurological problems.
Read the original UC News story about the published research.
The primary treatment is surgery to place a shunt, a small tube that drains excess fluid from the brain. However, shunts can fail or become infected, sometimes requiring additional surgeries. Doctors may also use an endoscopic procedure to ablate or burn away some of the tissue that produces cerebrospinal fluid. That treatment can help some patients, but it does not significantly reduce the amount of fluid produced and is not safe or possible for everyone. Researchers say better treatment options are needed.
So Luo's team at UC and their collaborators at UC Davis tested an experimental gene therapy for hydrocephalus in adult animal models. The treatment uses an adeno-associated virus, or AAV. These modified viruses can deliver genetic material into specific cells without causing the illness associated with the original virus. The therapy is designed to target the cells that produce cerebrospinal fluid. By reducing the number of those cells, the treatment may reduce the amount of fluid produced in the brain.
Researchers say the therapy could eventually be delivered via an existing shunt, but additional testing is needed before human clinical trials.
Read the full Yahoo! News article.
Featured image at the top: Aleksandr Taranov, PhD, and Agnes (Yu) Luo, PhD, review images on a monitor in a lab. Photo/University of Cincinnati Marketing + Brand.
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