Tiny hair-like structures on brain blood vessels that help keep vessels stable
Basolateral brain endothelial cilia and its role in promoting vascular stability
Researchers are seeing if tiny hair-like structures on the back side of brain blood vessel cells help keep brain blood vessels healthy for people with blood-vessel problems in the brain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical College of Wisconsin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11325088 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work focuses on cilia found on the basolateral side of brain endothelial cells and how they communicate with nearby support cells called pericytes. Scientists will use 3D cell cultures and molecular experiments to study how the cilia, the basement membrane, and molecules like PDGF-BB, ARL13B, and PAK2 interact. They will track how these signals affect endothelial cell metabolism, retention of signaling molecules at the vessel wall, and pericyte recruitment. The lab studies aim to map the steps that help blood vessels remain stable and resist leakage.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with brain blood-vessel disorders such as cerebral small vessel disease, blood–brain barrier dysfunction, or a history of intracerebral hemorrhage might be the eventual candidates for related clinical studies, although this project is primarily laboratory research and does not currently enroll patients.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment for active brain bleeding, stroke, or unrelated medical problems should not expect direct benefit from this laboratory-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could point to new targets for therapies that strengthen brain blood-vessel stability and reduce bleeding or barrier breakdown.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research supports the importance of PDGF-BB and pericyte interactions for vessel stability, but the idea that basolateral endothelial cilia control this process is novel and mostly untested.
Where this research is happening
Milwaukee, United States
- Medical College of Wisconsin — Milwaukee, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ramchandran, Ramani — Medical College of Wisconsin
- Study coordinator: Ramchandran, Ramani
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.