OUR MISSION

Can the brain regenerate after injury? Can we awaken dormant mechanisms of brain repair to restore lost functions after stroke? What genetic and environmental factors shape both our vulnerability to stroke and our capacity for recovery? Finding the answer to these questions, which has eluded scientists for decades, is the central mission of the Nih Laboratory.

OUR APPROACH

Rather than viewing this as a single-discipline problem, we approach the question through the combined lenses of neuroscience, vascular biology, and bioengineering in a systematic, three-step strategy. First, we investigate the brain’s innate response to injury, uncovering the cellular and molecular mechanisms naturally activated after stroke. Second, we develop therapeutic technologies—such as injectable biomaterials and controlled-release drug delivery systems—designed to further enhance these natural repair processes at the lesion site and promote tissue regrowth. Finally, we leverage the data and insights gained from applying these therapies to refine our understanding of brain repair and to inform the design of more advanced, targeted, and precise therapies.

OUR RESEARCH

Within this framework, we have established four distinct research directions: 1) designing biomaterials that stimulate vascular regeneration and remodeling in and around the lesion site to enhance perfusion in the areas of repair, 2) developing innovative stem cell-based strategies to restore lost tissue, 3) exploring how prenatal and early-life stresses impact stroke vulnerability, and 4) identifying genetic factors that shape post-stroke recovery.

Together, these efforts bring us closer to achieving our mission: uncovering how the brain attempts to heal itself and translating bold science into new therapeutic pathways that can truly restore function and quality of life for stroke patients.