Bonnie L. Blazer-Yost, PhD, FAPS

Professor of Biology, Indiana University Indianapolis
Director, Hydrocephalus Research Center

Lecture Title:  Modulation of TRPV4 in Animal Models of Hydrocephalus

Dr. Bonnie Blazer-Yost is an internationally recognized physiologist and translational scientist whose work has catalyzed a paradigm shift in the treatment of hydrocephalus. A Professor of Biology at Indiana University Indianapolis, she also serves as Director of the Hydrocephalus Research Center—a collaborative, multi-institutional initiative supported by the US Department of Defense (DoD).

Dr. Blazer-Yost’s research focuses on the regulation of epithelial ion transport mechanisms that govern cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics. Her entry into hydrocephalus research originated from unexpected findings in polycystic kidney disease models, where modulation of the TRPV4 channel significantly impacted ventricular enlargement. These early discoveries led to a series of preclinical studies testing TRPV4 antagonists and other pharmacologic agents in rodent and large animal models of hydrocephalus.

Her laboratory now leads two major DoD-funded consortia aimed at advancing non-surgical drug therapies for both acute and chronic forms of hydrocephalus. She also spearheads efforts to understand the molecular underpinnings of CSF production and flow using novel human choroid plexus cell lines and mechanistic drug studies. Her team’s work on SGK1 inhibition has opened additional translational avenues and expanded the scope of therapeutic targets in hydrocephalus.

Dr. Blazer-Yost is a Fellow of the American Physiological Society and a passionate advocate for cross-disciplinary science. In recognition of her pioneering contributions, Dr. Blazer-Yost was the 2025 recipient of the Hugh Davson Distinguished Lectureship from the American Physiological Society’s Cell and Molecular Physiology Section.