Department Acker-Palmer
Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience
Our research focuses on the molecular dialogue between neurons and blood vessels in the central nervous system. We aim to understand how this interaction guides brain organization and function.
Our lab explores the remarkable parallelims between the nervous and vascular systems—two networks that shape how the brain builds, adapts, and functions. We are driven by a central question: how do these systems communicate, and how does this dialogue influence development, plasticity, and disease?
To answer this, we combine molecular, biochemical, and cell biological approaches to uncover the signaling pathways and interactions that guide cellular behavior. We study these processes in living organisms to capture their full complexity, while also using ex vivo and in vitro models that allow us to precisely dissect and manipulate underlying mechanisms.
By decoding the crosstalk between neural and vascular systems, we aim to reveal fundamental principles of central nervous system organization and repair. Ultimately, our goal is to translate these insights into new therapeutic strategies for disorders of the central nervous system and beyond.