The University of California, San Diego (UCSD) has been awarded a $772,581 Project Grant from the National Institute on Aging (CFDA 93.866 - Aging Research) to investigate the role of the transcription factor SOX18 in neurovascular dysfunction associated with Alzheimer's disease. The key objectives of this 5-year research project are to:
Examine how downregulation of SOX18 in brain endothelial cells impacts neurovascular function, including angiogenesis and blood-brain barrier formation.
Use human induced pluripotent stem cell models to identify the molecular mechanisms by which SOX18 regulates neurovascular function.
Determine if modulating SOX18 expression can alter the disease course in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease.
The findings from this comprehensive research effort could provide important insights into the underlying vascular contributions to Alzheimer's pathogenesis and identify potential therapeutic targets for limiting disease progression.