Abstract

A constant blood supply is essential for brain function, since the brain cannot store energy. Studying microvascular networks in the human brain is challenging because they fall below the resolution of standard clinical imaging. To overcome this, the Shih lab uses highresolution multiphoton imaging in living mice to reveal how brain capillary networks operate in health and how they deteriorate with aging and disease. By combining advanced optical, chemogenetic, and genetic approaches, the lab dissects the complexity of vascular regulation, uncovering novel and often unexpected insights into how blood flow is controlled. A central goal of this work is to identify early therapeutic targets that can prevent or repair vascular damage