Salman Group

mootaz.salman@dpag.ox.ac.uk

MRC Career Development Award

Chief Scientist Office Research Grant

CONNECT - Horizon2020

BBSRC Pioneer Award

Blood-brain barrier (dys)function and regulation of brain water homeostasis in CNS pathologies

We investigate mechanisms of blood-brain barrier (dys)function in neurodegenerative diseases and brain injuries using patient-derived stem cells, gene editing (CRISPR-Cas 9) and organ-on-a-chip technologies.

Dementia is a multifactorial and heterogeneous condition and leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Our work aims to answer the question: how does inflammation-mediated blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction lead to the development of neurodegeneration and dementia? We design and build innovative dynamic 3D multicellular in vitro model to accurately recapitulate the brain and BBB function under neurodegenerative-relevant conditions using human-derived iPSCs.

Increasing evidence supports the involvement of BBB dysfunction in neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer's; it is evident that this dysfunction happens even before the onset of dementia. In-depth understanding of the cell-cell interactions and signalling pathways between the core elements of the BBB will help in defining therapeutic targets for the prevention of dementia.

In previous work, we identified several molecular targets that contribute to barrier integrity function in astrocytes and pericytes and developed 3D microfluidic BBB-on-a-chip models. We will build on this expertise and establish advanced models using patient-derived iPSC lines in order to investigate the role of neuroinflammation and the glymphatic system under mechanobiological stimuli and determine how biophysical factors such as blood pressure, flow rate and heartbeat control brain waste clearance.

Our work will provide new tools to understand lifelong brain health, describe the basis of BBB dysfunction in the occurrence and development of dementia, and provide a platform to develop new treatments for neurodegeneration.

Our team

Mootaz Salman

Group Leader and MRC Career Development Fellow
Ji Qu

DPhil Student
Tanya Singh

Postdoctoral Research Scientist
Luise Schlotterose

Postdoctoral Research Scientist

Join the Salman Lab

We are actively recruiting Postdoctoral Scientists and Research Assistants to join the group.

-For a DPhil position in our group, please apply using this link: https://rb.gy/t7cb4j. Deadline is Friday 1 December 2023.

-For a Postdoctoral Position to work on developing human stem-cell derived organoids and advanced microfluidic systems, please apply using this link: https://lnkd.in/efq5fsCV. Deadline is Monday the 11th of December.

-*New* For a Postdoctoral Position to work on building a controlled microenvironment in the form of a gliovascular interface on a chip in order to make detailed measurements of glymphatic regulation in the brain, please apply using this link: https://lnkd.in/dkcJu-_8. Deadline is Monday the 11th of December.

-*New* For a Postdoctoral Position to work on developing 3D blood-brain barrier (BBB)-on-a-chip platforms to study molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration using patient-derived stem cells, please apply using this link: https://lnkd.in/ey6QNuHV Deadline is Friday the 5th of January 2024.

To find out more: email Mootaz