Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Stroke is a devastating disease that occurs following interruption of blood flow to the brain. During a stroke, reduced blood flow results in irreversible damage to brain tissue within the core of the stroke site that cannot be rescued. However, brain tissue surrounding the stroke core can be salvaged if treatments are implemented within a limited time window. These treatments, including tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and endovascular thrombectomy, are aimed at reinstating blood flow to the damaged brain. However, not all patients are eligible and the time window for treatment is short. Furthermore, less than 10% of eligible patients actually receive tPA due to the narrow therapeutic window, therefore there is a need for treatments that have a longer therapeutic window. The ultimate goal of this project is to address this need by identifying additional targets to extend the therapeutic window post stroke and provide treatment options for a greater percentage of stroke patients. To address this goal, our first aim was to determine whether promoting the survival of endothelial cells that form the blood vessel walls, would maintain blood perfusion and the survival of brain tissue. Because the survival of cells within the brain is interdependent, promoting the survival of the most susceptible cells could potentially promote survival of the whole. Using intravascular fluorescent tracers, we developed an assay to identify areas of blood perfusion and no perfusion. We will use targeting vectors to promote the survival of endothelial cells and determine its impacts on: (i) blood perfusion in areas of low perfusion post-stroke, and (ii) the survival and health of nerve cells, supporting brain cells and brain immune cells. By identifying additional targets for stroke therapy, we hope to promote greater recovery of brain function.