How the brain's protective blood–brain barrier works
Molecular Mechanisms of the Blood Brain Barrier Function and Regulation
This project looks at the molecules that keep the brain's protective blood–brain barrier working, aiming to help people with Alzheimer's and other brain disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard Medical School NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11377327 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are studying the cells and molecules that make brain blood vessels tightly sealed, including how endothelial cells, pericytes, and astrocytes control leaks and transport. They focus on a process called transcytosis, which moves materials across cells, and on the signals that switch that process on or off. The team uses molecular experiments in cells and animal models and examines human-derived samples to trace how barrier breakdown happens in Alzheimer's. Their goal is to find targets that could either strengthen the barrier to protect the brain or safely open it to allow delivery of therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would include people with Alzheimer's disease, those at high risk for Alzheimer's, or individuals willing to provide blood, cerebrospinal fluid, or brain tissue samples for research.
Not a fit: People with unrelated medical conditions or those seeking immediate symptom relief should not expect direct clinical benefit from this laboratory-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to ways to protect the brain from harmful leaks and to improve delivery of treatments for Alzheimer's and other neurological diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Prior basic research has identified molecules that regulate the blood–brain barrier and linked barrier breakdown to Alzheimer's, but turning those findings into human treatments remains early and unproven.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Harvard Medical School — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gu, Chenghua — Harvard Medical School
- Study coordinator: Gu, Chenghua
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.