JuandelaCierva2025 - Deciphering the immune landscape of stroke

Our project explores innovative strategies to modulate myeloid cells with the goal of improving outcomes after cerebrovascular diseases in the aging brain. Stroke and related cerebrovascular events trigger complex immune responses that profoundly influence tissue damage and repair. In aged individuals, these immune reactions are often maladaptive, contributing to poor recovery. We aim to dissect and manipulate these processes by investigating how specific myeloid cell populations—both resident and circulating—can be redirected toward reparative functions. Using state-of-the-art immunophenotyping, transcriptomic profiling, and in vivo models of stroke in aged mice, we will characterize the immune landscape of brain-infiltrating leukocytes and identify key molecular pathways that drive detrimental or protective responses. Furthermore, we will test targeted interventions designed to shift the phenotype of circulating myeloid cells to promote neurovascular repair and functional recovery. This multidisciplinary project integrates neuroimmunology, aging biology, and translational neuroscience, providing a dynamic environment for innovative research and discovery.