NEW EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH INTERNSHIP SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES LAUNCHED AT THE PEDIATRIC HYDROCEPHALUS FOUNDATION

Fairfield, CT – The Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation, the largest Pediatric focused Hydrocephalus advocacy and research funding provider in the United States, is pleased to announce two new scholarship and grant opportunities beginning in the Summer of 2018.

Through the generosity of the Shanley family and the Connecticut State Chapter of the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation, the Reagan Sloane Shanley Scholarship will offer a $10,000 educational scholarship and a $10,000 research internship grant.

The purpose of these initiatives is to encourage students and researchers in the applied sciences to explore and find practical solutions to help alleviate hydrocephalus, a debilitating brain condition with no known cure; only life-long work arounds with many points of potential failure.

The PHF and the Shanley family believe that there are new, better devices/techniques that can be developed by this next generation of technical minds. Our hope is to encourage students and practitioners to put their considerable talents toward answers that will make the lives better for the over one million people who have Hydrocephalus.

“We are honored to announce these two wonderful opportunities, which reflects the importance of, and our commitment, to research,” says Michael Illions, Vice President & Director of Advocacy at the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation.

“Our daughter Reagan was diagnosed with hydrocephalus at 9 months old. Our brave and feisty little girl has inspired us to be a part of the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation. Over the last 3 years we’ve raised over $200,000 for the PHF through the generous donations of family and friends. Reagan’s two brain surgeries, along with numerous doctor and hospital visits, made us strong believers that there has to be a better way. That’s why we’ve created the Reagan Sloane Shanley Scholarship. We’re committed to putting the funds toward supporting students and researchers in their efforts to find advancements in treating hydrocephalus,” says Cindy Shanley, mother of Reagan, and Connecticut State Chapter Director at the PHF.

About The Reagan Sloane Shanley Scholarship
The scholarship is named in honor of Connecticut resident Reagan Shanley, 5 ½ years old, who was diagnosed with hydrocephalus at 9 months and had two brain surgeries before she turned 18 months. Reagan was treated with an Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy (ETV) which is an alternative surgical procedure that creates a bypass for the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the head and eliminates the need for a shunt. A shunt, the most common treatment for hydrocephalus, is a silicone tube used to divert CSF. While shunts may be lifesaving, they are permanent mechanical devices and fail for a variety of reasons over the course of a patient’s life. Reagan’s parents Tim and Cindy Shanley (CT State Chapter Directors of the PHF) remain optimistic that Reagan’s condition will continue to be successfully managed with the ETV. However, their experience with Reagan, as well as seeing the struggles that fellow hydrocephalus families have with the 50+ year old shunt treatment, has made them realize that better “work-arounds” are needed. The Shanleys are committed to inspiring the next generation of scientists to find advancements in the treatment of hydrocephalus so that Reagan and all of the other children who suffer from this condition can lead better lives.

Student scholarship – is available to applicants with an interest in the discipline of neuroscience and/or engineering and have an understanding and/or current interest in Hydrocephalus, cerebral spinal fluid and the brain. The maximum funding request per application in 2018 is $10,000 per year, (up to a 3-year commitment with re-approval each year).

Research Internship – requests must be made by the research organization or hospital for a new internship fully dedicated to Hydrocephalus or related brain conditions. The Grant is available to practices/research organizations with a predominant emphasis on neuro-conditions. The maximum funding request per application in 2018 is $10,000 per year, (up to a 3-year commitment with re-approval each year).

About the PHF
The Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation, an all-volunteer non-profit 501(c) (3) charitable organization, educates the community by creating awareness about Hydrocephalus. PHF, with 30 state chapters, provides support to families, friends and children affected by this incurable brain condition.

PHF assists the medical community by raising funds to search for treatment options, and ultimately, a cure. PHF advocates on behalf of members while working with policy makers at State and Federal levels to push for more research and support in the fight against Hydrocephalus.

Since 2010, PHF awarded over $500,000 in grants and donations to Hospitals, Neuroscience Institutes and Medical Research Centers for research and education. For information, visit HydrocephalusKids.org.