Metabolic control in cerebrovascular disease – Role of extracellu- lar matrix and junctional proteins for post-stroke regeneration

Ischemic stroke is a vascular disease affecting neuronal function. The ‘bimodal response’ of the neurovascular unit (NVU) to brain ischemia is characterized by an early blood-brain-barrier disruption followed later by vascular remodelling and, hence, a switch from brain injury to repair and recovery. The aim of this project is to target extracellular matrix (ECM) components essential for NVU integrity to protect from stroke and to identify novel biomarkers to translate these findings into clinical practice. Using a model of transient focal brain ischemia and a genetically modified mice, we investigate the role of key ECM components for stroke outcome and their potential use as biomarkers for the switch from injury to recovery.