Blood-Brain Barrier Development
Studying how and when this barrier forms to better understand the unique environment surrounding the developing fetal brain and spinal cord.
The blood-brain (BBB) and blood-spinal cord barriers (BSCB) are vital in regulating the molecules, proteins, drugs, and cells that can enter or exit the central nervous system. Our lab, in collaboration with the Crouch lab, studies how and when these barriers form to better understand the unique environment surrounding the developing fetal brain and spinal cord. In addition, with an eye toward therapeutics, we hope to be able to use this knowledge of the biology of the BBB and BSCB to design new gene and cell therapies.