Grant: Fellowship: Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards - Postdoctoral

"A stroke is a type of brain injury that happens when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, either by a blockage or by a ruptured blood vessel. It is a major cause of long-term disability, affecting every aspect of daily life. Without blood flow, brain cells are lost within minutes. Because of this rapid damage, current treatments must be given very soon after a stroke. However, many patients do not receive care on time. As a result, there is a strong need for new treatments that can help the brain heal beyond this short window of time. This project studies how the brain blood vessels repair after a stroke. We focus on brain cells called astrocytes that form a layer around blood vessels. Astrocytes help control blood flow and support neurons. They also produce a molecule called HMGB1 that during early life helps build the brain’s blood vessels. After a stroke, levels of HMGB1 rise again. This suggests that the brain may try to “re-use” early repair programs to heal itself. We will study this process in a mouse model of stroke. We will test how HMGB1 affects blood vessel repair, inflammation, and recovery. We will also explore whether adjusting when and where HMGB1 acts can improve healing, while avoiding harmful effects early after injury. The goal is to find new ways to help the brain recover after stroke. These treatments could work even after the early emergency phase, helping more patients regain function and independence. "