The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) received a $4,693,249 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders (CFDA 93.853) program. The project aims to define the molecular spectrum of white matter vascular lesions driving vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID). Key objectives include characterizing inflammatory signaling and disrupted cellular communication pathways within cerebral small vessels, as well as investigating cortical dysfunction and regional brain resilience to white matter vascular lesions. The project will leverage sophisticated viral, genetic, and brain imaging technologies, along with human-to-rodent data alignment, to advance mechanistic understanding of VCID and test the efficacy of three novel VCID therapeutic candidates developed by the research team. This comprehensive "Center Without Walls" framework is expected to accelerate the identification of new VCID treatment targets and diagnostic strategies.