Grant: Project Grant

Vascular problems are common in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, but we don't fully understand why these issues occur. Recent discoveries have pointed to a specific cell-type called pericytes, which interact with the tiniest blood vessels in the brain, as contributors to vascular and brain dysfunction. Our research aims to uncover how pericytes work, and how their dysfunction may be related to vascular malfunction and cognitive impairment. Using advanced imaging techniques in living animals, we propose to observe these cells and their activity in real-time. Additionally, we will link these observations with detailed imaging of how blood circulates in the brain to understand their impact on overall brain blood flow regulation. By genetically manipulating the activity of pericytes, we will then be able to draw causal links between pericyte function and vascular homeostasis. This comprehensive approach is designed to fill gaps in our understanding of how capillary pericytes function and how changes in their signaling affect the complex dynamics of the brain's blood vessels. The insights from our study have the potential to greatly improve our understanding of pericyte function. This, in turn, could pave the way for targeted interventions in neurological conditions where problems with vascular function in the brain are a central concern.