Chiari II brain malformation: the role of cerebrospinal fluid
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Chiari II brain malformation: the role of cerebrospinal fluid
IRAS ID
344434
Contact name
Andrew Copp
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
UCL – Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2024/08/97, UCL Data Protection registration number
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Spina bifida is a severe birth defect in which the spinal cord fails to develop normally in the embryo. It is usually thought to mainly affect the lower body, with lack of sensation, inability to walk and poor bladder control. However, problems also occur in the brains of children with spina bifida, leading to frequent learning difficulties – which are much less well understood. Although surgery to close spina bifida in the fetus before birth is now possible and is practised at UCLH and Great Ormond Street Hospital, brain anomalies in spina bifida still occur. This is because they arise very early in embryonic and fetal development before surgery can be performed. Our research aims to understand how these brain defects affect children with spina bifida. In this project, we will test whether the brain fluid’s composition is different in spina bifida. Because the fluid leaks constantly from the open spine, it must be made rapidly and, we suggest, in a ‘less mature’ form than normal. The brain fluid bathes the early nerve cells and affects how they multiply and move to their correct positions. We will compare the composition of brain fluid in children with or without spina bifida. Then, we will grow slices of the developing brain in the lab and expose them to brain fluids of differing compositions to examine the effects on nerve cell properties. Labelling the nerve cells will allow us to monitor how well they develop and whether brain fluid from spina bifida has a detrimental effect. This project will help us understand how brain defects arise in children with spina bifida and provide a starting point for future research that is aimed at correcting the brain fluid composition in early pregnancy to improve outcomes in spina bifida.
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/NW/0331
Date of REC Opinion
31 Oct 2024
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion