FOR 2325:  Interactions at the Neurovascular Interface

• Subject Area: Medicine ; Biology
• Term: from 2016 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 269353708

The vasculature and the nervous system form complex, highly branched networks, which are frequently interdependent and functionally linked. Growing vessels, migrating neurons and extending axons respond to similar sets of guidance cues and instructive signals such as Wnt, Notch, VEGF/VEGFR, or Eph/ephrin molecules. Certain vessels and nerves also form in a highly aligned fashion, which can be mediated by nerve-derived signals that act on endothelial cells or, conversely, the formation of nerve fibers along a preformed vessel template. The blood-brainbarrier, which protects the central nervous system against potentially harmful cell and moleculesfrom the circulation, requires the tightly coordinated function of endothelial cells, pericytes and astrocytes in a structure called neurovascular unit. While neurovascular interactions are particularly important during development, they remain indispensable for normal organ function and regenerative processes in the adult organism. In fact, many of the most debilitating neurodegenerative diseases involve disruption of the neurovascular unit or compromised vascular function in the nervous system. Despite the obvious importance of the neurovascular interactions, many of the underlying cellular and molecular processes are not yet understood and, in general, there is insufficient research at the interface between vascular biology and neurobiology. Here, we propose a new Research Unit (Forschergruppe, FOR) focusing on neurovascular signaling, the role of common molecular regulators, and the formation and homeostasis of the neurovascular unit. The FOR will bundle research activities of leading laboratories and, with the help of centralactivities, generate a new powerful network in a highly promising field with great relevance for both basic and biomedical research.

• DFG Programme: Research Units

Projects

• Cell-specific roles of ephrin-B2 signaling in neurovascular repair and regeneration after ischemic injury of the brain (Applicant Vajkoczy, Peter )
• Coordination Funds (Applicant Adams, Ralf H. )
• Differential regulation of angiogenesis and blood-brain barrier formation in zebrafish (Applicant Herzog, Wiebke )
• Flt1 at the neuro-vascular interface (Applicant Le Noble, Ferdinand )
• Instructive roles of the vasculature during neuronal arborization and spine morphogenesis (Applicant Acker-Palmer, Amparo )
• Kontrolle der ZNS Barrierefunktion durch die Transkriptionsregulatoren Lmo2 und Tal1 (Applicants Adams, Ralf H. ;  Pitulescu, Mara E. )
• Microenvironmental control of the Wnt pathway for the establishment of barrier heterogeneity in the CNS vasculature (Applicant Liebner, Ph.D., Stefan )
• Physiological and patho-physiological roles of lymphatic endothelial cells in the meningeal layer of the zebrafish brain (Applicant Schulte-Merker, Stefan )
• Role of the Angiopoietin / Tie signaling in oligodendrocyte specification and function (Applicant Ruiz de Almodovar Egea, Ph.D., Carmen )
• The role of pericytes in vascular amyloidosis (Applicant Hefendehl, Jasmin Kim )
• VEGFD signaling: coupling of neuronal function with the CNS vascular system (Applicant Mauceri, Daniela )

• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Ralf H. Adams