Prof. Ruiz de Almodóvar Group

Research in our group is focussed on neurovascular interactions in development, homeostasis and disease.

We aim to understand how the vasculature of the central nervous system forms and acquires its specific organotypic features. We aim to characterize the molecular signals that neural cells and blood vessels use to communicate with each other in order to build and maintain highly precise functional networks. We are also studying the vascular changes that occur in CNS pathologies and how vascular dysfunction and impaired cross-talk with the neural parenchyma can contribute to the neurological phenotypes.

For this, we are using a combination of mouse genetics, viral gene targeting, organotypic cultures, cell biology, biochemistry and molecular biology approaches.

Determining how the vascular system influences neuronal wiring, function and dysfunction will shed new light on the understanding of the molecular control of neural development and maintenance, and provide new paths for deepening our understanding of neurological diseases.