Cellular and Molecular Aspects of the Blood-Brain Barrier and Neurovascular System and Therapeutic Strategies – ZRG1 MDCN (91)

Topics

• Use of In vitro and in vivo BBB and neurovascular models for the study of their function in normal and disease states
• Cellular and molecular studies of neurovascular and cerebrovascular function in normal and disease states, including CNS disorders and studies that characterize the impact of disease-causing mutations on BBB or neurovascular function.
• Triggers of blood-brain barrier breakdown and impact on disease.
• Ways to increase blood-brain barrier permeability and/or reduce efflux of therapies; ways to optimize the uptake of molecules including exosomes, nanoparticles and peptides into the CNS or across the blood-nerve barrier.
• Drug and therapy delivery across the blood-brain barrier, including screening studies to identify candidate therapies with better CNS penetration and proof of concept studies.
• Reducing BBB or neurovascular damage after disease or trauma and developing therapies to restore function.

Shared Interests and Overlaps:

Bioengineering of Neuroscience, Vision Technologies (BNVT) reviews applications involving the development of microphysiological models of the BBB/neovascular units with a focus on the technology development. Applications focused on the use of these models with a focus on molecular and cellular events may be assigned to M91.

Gene and Drug Delivery Systems (GDD) reviews fundamental aspects of gene and drug delivery including delivery vehicle development, targeting strategies, and biological barriers using a bioengineering focus.  Applications that specifically focus on the delivery to the brain, including strategies to cross the blood-brain barrier may be assigned to M91.   

Nanotechnology (NANO) focuses on the development of nano-therapeutics including the synthesis, chemical properties, biodistribution and toxicology of nanoparticle-based delivery platforms with focus on the technology development. Applications that focus on biological delivery of nanoparticles or proof of concept studies of nanodelivery across the blood-brain barrier may be assigned to M91. 

Drug Discovery for the Nervous System (DDNS) reviews applications proposing preclinical work aimed at discovery of new agents for treating or preventing disorders of the nervous system. Applications focused more on the delivery of such agents to the brain or studies that are at the proof-of-concept stage may be assigned to M91.

Cellular and Molecular Biology of Glia (CMBG) reviews studies involving formation and function of the blood brain barrier and the extended neurovascular unit including pericytes and astrocytes that interact with the blood brain barrier, cerebral microvascular function, and glial responses to ischemia and stroke.  Studies involving the role of glial cells within the context of the BBB and neurovascular unit are appropriate for M91. 

Brain Injury and Neurovascular Pathologies (BINP) reviews the role of the blood brain barrier (BBB) and vascular functions involving cerebral blood flow in development, treatment of neural injury animal models and potential therapies for cerebral amyloid angiopathy, microvascular damage and alterations in the blood brain barrier. Applications focused on the more cellular and molecular aspects of the BBB and neurovascular unit, not the pathology per se, are appropriate for M91 review.

Clinical Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumors (CNBT) reviews the role and pathophysiology of the blood brain barrier and brain vasculature in neuroinflammation, trafficking of immune cells, viral gene therapy, cell transplantation, and vascular damage and permeability.  Applications focused on the more cellular and molecular aspects of the BBB and neurovascular unit, not the pathology per se, are appropriate for M91 review.