NVU
The Neurovascular Unit
The Polster Lab focuses on understanding the physiology of the neurovascular unit (NVU)—the critical interface and transport system between the brain and the body. We study how NVU health influences brain function and disease, with the goal of identifying ways to preserve and restore brain health across a range of neurological conditions.
What we Do
It all starts with patients
The section of Neurovascular Surgery focuses on disease of the NVU and brain bleeding. All of the questions that we ask stem from the functional NVU with a terminal disease that can manifest with blood barrier leak or bleeding. Our team leads the world in treating brain bleeding but we desperately need to understand these observations and knowledge gaps to invent better treatments and preventive strategies.
Why do some patients have adverse reaction to brain radiation while other have none?
Why do some cavernous malformations (CCM) bleed while others remain stable throughout a lifetime
Why do some aneurysms or AVMs grow/rupture while others can be stable forever?
How can cancer grow its own blood supply and repair itself after we treat it?
Why do some patients have big inflammatory reactions to stroke or traumatic brain injury (TBI) while other do not?
Why do some people accumulate toxins in the brain or have neurological degeneration while some people can live to over 100 years?
R & D
We develop disease models to investigate fundamental mechanisms of pathology and evaluate early-stage therapeutic interventions.
POwered by passion and
Our lab receives NIH and foundational funding. Philanthropic donations in the NV section have a >2:1 return on investment. Our group has trainained numerous scientests and surgeons who allowed to do high risk/high reward science.
Machine Learning
We work with other UChicago labs and leverage the latest and greatest minds to bridge knowledge gaps.
Only at UChicago
We do high risk/high reward science to solve pressing problems that face modern medicine.
R&D
How powerful is the gut-brain axis?
Our lab’s primary focus is currently on NVU stress induced by ionizing radiation. The induction of NUV stress and BBB leak can be rescued. Altering the gut microbiome and subsequent microbial metabolites can reverse or protect the complex cascade of damage.
Mice treated with microbial metabolites can survive radiation damage and NVU stress!
The modification of the immune system via APC and T cells are implicated in this process and is a key mechanism of brain inflammation.
Brain Bleeding
On the horizon
Other forms of NVU stress seem to be regulated in a similar way regardless of damage.
Intracerebral hemorrhage / Microbleeds / Traumatic brain injury
By changing the gut microbiome the NVU in these diseases can be modulated.
Advanced MRI
Using dynamic contrast and advanced quantification MRI, we can gain a deeper understanding of aneurysms, the NVU, and diseases of the brain’s blood vessels.
Traumatic Brain Injury and the gut microbiome?
Our Gut-Brain Axis Group is working on a proof of concept -FIRST IN HUMAN- Study to change the gut microbiome to benifit the brain. Yes, this is real and it might just work.
The Neurosurgery Department along with the Polster lab embodies the true spirit of UChicago. We are all students of life and our knowledge is open to all. We are a collaborative group and share in a mission of education at all levels.
