Brain invaders

From a Rogue One to the Attack of the Clones: A long time ago, in a galaxy not so far away a doctor noticed unusual features in the brain of a patient with a disease never seen before. We now know that this patient’s disease was driven by the invasion of immune cells attacking the brain. Normally, immune cells patrol the body, fighting off infection, but if immune cells go rogue and the brain’s defense fails, then these cells can enter and cause irreversible damage. If we can solve the mystery of why and how these immune cells go rogue, then maybe we can find better ways of treating patients.

A stroke occurs every two seconds worldwide. When it comes to treatment the saying goes “time is brain”. However, roughly a quarter of stroke patients who arrive at hospital in time to unblock the artery do not benefit from treatment, and this talk will implore why this might be. We’re particularly interested in a cell type in the brain called pericytes, which can strangle blood vessels after stroke. Importantly, I will discuss research currently investigating how to stop these cells from causing damage, so that all patients may one day benefit from stroke treatment.