Indianapolis—Hydrocephalus researchers from across the world gathered at the School of Science at IUPUI last month for the inaugural Hydrocephalus Research Symposium, providing an enthusiastic start to Bonnie Blazer-Yost and Teri Belecky-Adams’ recently founded Hydrocephalus Research Center.
With Blazer-Yost kicking off the six-hour event, 12 speakers gave presentations on their hydrocephalus research as well as advancements of treatment and perceived improvements needed in the disorder’s treatment. Hydrocephalus is a rare condition commonly found in both infants and older adults characterized by the accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain.
“I want to express my sincere thanks to all who made the symposium so successful,” Blazer-Yost said. “I have had many positive comments from the people who attended virtually. One of those was a young man from Nigeria. He expressed the sentiment that he had never seen that much passion in a research field and he wants to be a part of something that exciting. I hope to keep that momentum going and look forward to continuing interactions.”
The Hydrocephalus Research Center, which opened this fall, is designed to serve as a place for collaboration and communication between researchers involved in discovering solutions for the treatment of hydrocephalus locally, nationally and globally. Earlier this summer, the center was announced after Blazer-Yost and Belecky-Adams, both biology faculty members, received two grants totaling $11.7 million from the Department of Defense to research drug treatment options for hydrocephalus.
“I was incredibly inspired by many of the speakers and am looking forward to working with everyone to propel the Center to greater heights and get those treatments out there to those who desperately need them,” Belecky-Adams said.
Speakers included Blazer-Yost, Belecky-Adams, Interim Chancellor of IUPUI Carol Murdoch-Kinch, board member of the Hydrocephalus Association and chair of Team Hydro Pam Findlayson, Mitesh Shah, Jignesh Tailor, Bittu Majmudar-Sheth and Kyle Gospodarek of the IU School of Medicine, Timothy Bentley of Purdue University, Steven Schiff of Yale University, and Michael Williams of the University of Washington.
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