Function of astrocytes at the juxtavascular interface in health and disease (C01)

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

Project C01 investigates the function of juxtavascular astrocytes (JVAs), a specialized astrocyte subtype in close association with the brain vasculature. It examines how JVAs contribute to vascular homeostasis, glial scar formation, and remodeling processes across physiological and pathological conditions. Using mouse models, human brain tissue, and astrocyte cultures, the project explores zonation-specific astrocyte–vessel interactions, the role of JVA proliferation, and the regulatory function of the LGALS3–LGALS3BP pathway in neurovascular injury and repair.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1744: Compartmentalized cellular networks in neurovascular diseases
• Applicant Institution: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
• Project Head: Professorin Dr. Magdalena Götz