Cajal Advanced Neuroscience Training

Young Investigator Katarzyna Terejko attended the course 'Neurovascular Function in Health and Disease’ at the Bordeaux School of Neuroscience in Bordeaux, France, from March 20 to April 7, 2023.

The neurovascular unit is a crucial component of the brain that consists of vascular cells, glial cells, and neurons. Its primary role is to regulate the supply of blood flow to the brain (cerebral blood flow) and maintain the integrity of the blood-brain barrier. When the neurovascular unit malfunctions, it can lead to severe conditions like dementia, cerebral ischemia (restriction of blood supply to the brain), or the formation of brain edema (accumulation of fluid in the brain). This advanced experimental course aimed to provide essential knowledge and practical experience in studying the neurovascular unit. It covered important techniques such as high-resolution imaging in vivo (2-photon imaging) and in vitro, MRI, and the use of mouse models to simulate cerebrovascular diseases. Additionally, the course emphasized the significance of data reproducibility and open science in research.