Lab of Neuroprotective Strategies for Neurodegenerative diseases

In spite of the efforts made in the last decade, the etiology of AD remains largely unknown and therefore the therapeutic approaches to cease disease progression have consistently failed. Our view is that additionally to the better characterized amyloidopathy and tauopathy, the loss of homeostatic responses in the elderly is a crucial factor for AD onset and progression, and that successful therapies must shift the view from ‘neuro-protection’ to ‘brain protection’. In this regard, the blood brain barrier (BBB) plays a crucial role in the maintenance of central nervous system homeostasis, and its dysfunction has been related to cognitive impairment and AD. Therefore, there is an urgent need to better understand the molecular mechanisms that govern BBB function and how it copes with oxidative, inflammatory and proteotoxic stress in AD. In the applicant's Final Master Project, we will analyze the role of the transcription factor NRF2, the master regulator of cellular homeostais, in the BBB and its potential implication in AD.