In mammals, the central nervous system (CNS), composed of the brain, retina, and spinal cord, is one of the most metabolically active systems in the body. Due to its high metabolic rate and low regenerative capabilities, the CNS needs to be supplied with nutrients at all times. Failure to meet this metabolic demand is associated with age-related defects, such as cognition, and is a hallmark of most, if not all, neurodegenerative and retinal diseases.

Crucial to CNS metabolism is the blood-brain barrier (BBB), the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB), and the blood-retina barrier (BRB). Much work has been done on exploring how the BBB controls metabolism in the CNS. How the BCSFB and the BRB control metabolism in the brain and the retina, respectively, remains poorly understood. The BCSFB is composed of the choroid plexus epithelium (CPE), while the BRB is made up of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The CPE and RPE both constitute epithelial barriers connected by tight junctions that sit between the vasculature and the CNS, and regulate the transport of metabolites and hormones in and out of tissue. Furthermore, both the CPE and RPE have been heavily implicated in degenerative diseases of the CNS, including Alzheimer’s disease and age-related macular degeneration.

Investigating the metabolic role these cells play may further our understanding of physiology and of degenerative diseases in the CNS, including the development of therapeutics that target these cells to restore metabolism and potentially mitigate disease. My lab studies both of these highly similar cells, and has developed a research program that investigates how the epithelial barriers of the CNS control metabolism during homeostasis, inflammation, and disease. Our work focuses on Alzheimer’s disease and age-related vision loss, with the hope that our findings will one day lead to new treatments that can mitigate these devastating illnesses.

My Publications