Relatively little is known about the structure and function of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the brain, which constitutes about 10-20% of the brain volume. Recent findings suggest that the ECM may play a key role in brain function and pathogenic mechanisms underlying many brain diseases.
Long term objectives
- To characterize the composition and system level distribution of the brain ECM
- To unravel the roles of ECM in signaling and pathophysiological processes in the brain, such as aging and neurodegeneration.
- To identify new principles for diagnostic and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders
Synergies
With complementary expertise and experimental techniques of the contributing partners, we will study relationships between ECM proteins and region-specific disease processes characteristic of different neurodegenerative disorders at a brain-wide level, employing methodologies spanning from molecular in vitro approaches to cellular, regional and whole organ in vivo investigation in healthy animals and disease models.