Control of the Neonatal Septisome and Hydrocephalus in sub-Saharan Africa

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): I propose a novel approach to institute model-based feedback control to seek a rational, and optimal, framework to reduce neonatal sepsis (NS) in developing countries. In addition to reducing deaths from NS, one of the leading global killers of children worldwide, this will reduce the sequelae in the survivors of NS such as postinfectious hydrocephalus (PIH) - likely the dominant cause of hydrocephalus in children worldwide. I presently am a PI on a Phase III NIH sponsored randomized controlled surgical trial in Africa seeking to optimize treatment of PIH (clinical trial # NCT01936272). However, as an alternative to surgical treatment of children with irreparable brain damage, I am now in a unique position to learn how to more effectively treat NS in this setting, and thereby better prevent the large numbers of infants with PIH in this part of the world that we would otherwise need to surgically palliate. Although a pediatric neurosurgeon, I have acquired considerable expertise in both control engineering and physics. I recently wrote the first book on Neural Control Engineering, published by the MIT press in 2012. This Pioneer Award seeks to leverage my knowledge of control engineering and apply this to an entirely new avenue of research for me - seeking to impact in a sustainable way both the morbidity and mortality of NS. I have put in place a unique infrastructure in Uganda to enable this project. I have secured Ugandan medical licensure. I have organized two pilot projects with two key institutions: a pediatric neurosurgery specialty hospital in Mbale (the CURE Children's Hospital of Uganda), and a major referral hospital in Mbarara (at the Mbarara University of Science and Technology). At Mbale, most of the hydrocephalus in Uganda is now treated, and the majority of these cases are postinfectious following NS. At Mbarara, the most common admission to their infant ward is NS, and all of their hydrocephalus is referred to Mbale. At each i