Vascular dysfunction is increasingly recognised as a feature of many neurodegenerative diseases, including motor neuron disease, but its role in their onset, progression and severity remains poorly understood. Blood vessels are essential for maintaining the stable and supportive environment that neurons need to survive and function.
Our research aims to understand how and when vascular abnormalities arise during neurodegeneration, whether they contribute directly to motor neuron damage, and whether restoring vascular health could offer a new approach to treatment. We use patient-derived cell models, human tissue, microscopy and molecular analyses to identify disease-associated vascular changes and uncover new biological pathways that could be targeted by future therapies.