Blood vessels proved to be the key to brain formation

The project, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) under the Reinhart Koselleck program, received funding in the amount of €1.25 million. Scientists are studying special endothelial cells lining the inner walls of blood vessels. These cells exchange signals with neurons and glial cells, influencing how neural circuits are formed and how the architecture of the brain develops. Disruption of these interactions can lead to serious pathologies ranging from developmental disorders to neurodegenerative diseases.

Special attention is paid to the cerebellum, which is responsible not only for coordination of movements, but also for cognitive functions, as well as the folding process of the brain, which provides the complexity and diversity of human intelligence. Errors in this process can cause epilepsy, developmental delay, and motor disorders.

“By combining vascular biology and neuroscience, we are opening a new page in the study of the brain,” says Professor Aker-Palmer. “Understanding how blood vessels control the development of neural structures is important not only for science, but also for creating future treatments for diseases caused by impaired vascular-neural connectivity.”

Professor Aker-Palmer’s laboratory is known for its interdisciplinary approach, bringing together vascular biologists and neurophysiologists. This format of work allows for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of interaction between blood vessels and nervous tissue and stimulates innovative discoveries.