Intraventricular hemorrhages (IVHs) in premature infants can cause cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus, and cognitive deficits. Praveen Ballabh, M.D., has received a five-year, $2.7 million grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke to better understand the role of sphingosine 1 phosphate (S1P) in the maturing brain. S1P is a key regulator of the blood brain barrier.

In previous work, Dr. Ballabh and colleagues have shown that IVHs trigger inflammation and the buildup of cerebrospinal fluid that can weaken the integrity of the blood-brain barrier. Dr. Ballabh will now investigate how specific molecules (S1PR1 and S1PR2) regulate the blood-brain barrier and how IVHs disturb the function of those molecules. The research could lead to therapies to minimize cerebral palsy and other complications in IVH survivors.

Dr. Ballabh is professor of pediatrics and in the Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience at Einstein. (1 R01 NS117390-01A1)