Research Topics
Brain Neoplasia
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is among the top diseases in terms of loss of life and work years. Patients diagnosed with malignant glioma have a poor prognosis and usually die within 12-15 months post diagnosis. However, little can be done beyond conservative treatment, such as neurosurgery and chemotherapy. Therefore, any improvement in understanding this type of cancer has the potential to be directly translated into a clinical application.
Neural Stem Cells
In neurobiology, the previous dogma on the unchangeability of the adult mammalian brain and its inability to give rise to new neurons has been challenged since the early nineties. Generally, it is now accepted that neurogenesis persists in adults to support life-long learning and brain repair after injuries. Though the debate continues whether neurogenesis occurs in humans throughout life one wonders why the Homo sapiens may differ from most other species.
Neurological Diseases
The CNS harbors a unique vascular system, which provides sufficient oxygen and glucose levels to meet the high metabolic rate of the brain and protects sensitive neurons from toxic substances. Hence, the CNS endothelium differs from non-CNS endothelia in the presence of intercellular tight junctions as well as brain-specific enzymes and transport protein. Moreover, CNS capillaries have a higher coverage of pericytes, which regulate the formation of the blood-brain barrier. These pericytes and the surrounding astroglial foot processes, the Membrana limitans gliae perivascularis, form an additional continuous layer that separates the blood vessels from the brain parenchyma.