Arterial aging as a target for lowering the burden of cerebral small vessel disease (A01)

• Subject Area: Molecular and Cellular Neurology and Neuropathology
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 548585053

A01 investigates how arterial aging contributes to cerebral small vessel disease (SVD), a key cause of stroke and dementia. Using population-scale omics and imaging data, combined with genetic mouse models, the project examines how age-related stiffening affects hemodynamic buffering and microvascular integrity. A particular focus lies on identifying biomarkers of arterial aging and zonation-specific changes across the arterial tree, with the goal to uncover new therapeutic targets and improve our understanding of vascular contributions to SVD pathology.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1744: Compartmentalized cellular networks in neurovascular diseases
• Applicant Institution: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
• Project Heads: Dr. Nathalie Beaufort; Marios Georgakis, Ph.D.