Can neurodegenerative diseases be stopped before their first irreversible symptoms appear? A growing body of research suggests that one of the earliest warning signs may be dysfunction of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) – a critical structure that protects the brain from inflammation and harmful factors.

On March 5 at 2:00 PM in the Łukasiewicz – PORT auditorium, Dr. Mootaz Salman from the University of Oxford will demonstrate how advanced organ-on-a-chip models help unravel the mechanisms of inflammation-mediated BBB dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and vascular dementia. His lecture, Defining mechanisms of blood-brain barrier dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases using advanced organ-on-a-chip models, will highlight the application of three-dimensional BBB-on-a-chip systems developed using patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).

This approach makes it possible to recreate physiologically relevant conditions and precisely analyze cell–cell interactions and signaling pathways responsible for maintaining barrier integrity. In practical terms, it opens new opportunities to identify therapeutic targets and develop strategies to prevent dementia and other central nervous system disorders.

The seminar will be conducted in English and is open to all interested participants, particularly PhD candidates and early-career researchers. Participation is free of charge. A discussion session and networking meeting will follow the lecture.

We warmly invite you to join us for a conversation about the future of brain and vascular research—where biology meets engineering and innovative technologies open new directions in medicine.