News

Neurovascular deficits and blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction are major hallmarks of brain trauma and neurodegenerative diseases. Oxidative stress is a prominent contributor to neurovascular unit (NVU) dysfunction and can propagate BBB disruption. Oxidative damage results in an imbalance of mitochondrial homeostasis, which can further drive functional impairment of brain capillaries. To this end, we developed a method to track mitochondrial-related changes after oxidative stress in the context of neurovascular pathophysiology as a critical endophenotype of neurodegenerative diseases.

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Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive brain tumor in adults. Despite surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, survival rates remain low, which emphasizes the urgent need for improved therapies. Current preclinical models use untreated tumors, which do not reflect the clinical scenario where patients already receive initial treatments. This review examines the effects of current treatments on the properties of recurrent tumors and evaluates preclinical models that incorporate these standard treatments to better mimic real patient conditions. Improving these models could help to identify more effective treatments, potentially leading to better outcomes for glioblastoma patients.

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Inconsistent engraftment of luciferase-expressing tumors, especially GL261 Red-FLuc, has been reported in the recent literature. However, techniques to improve tumor take have not been described. Our study aimed to optimize two luciferase-expressing mouse glioblastoma models, GL261 Red-FLuc and TRP-mCherry-FLuc, which revealed differences in tumor development and characteristics. Congratulations Louis!

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We celebrated Louis for completing his PhD, Tiffany for completing her PharmD/MS, and Jason for completing his MD. We are very proud of you and wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors! 

Louis received his Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Bjoern hooded Louis during the official UK College of Pharmacy Graduation Recognition Ceremony. Congratulations, Louis!

Tiffany received her Doctor of Pharmacy and her Master in Pharmaceutical Sciences. The University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy’s 2024 Graduation Recognition Ceremony took place in the Singletary Center for the Arts. Tiffany was one of 9 Master of Science/PharmD Recipients. Congratulations, Tiffany!

Louis successfully defended his PhD research entitled “Inhibiting PI3K/Akt to Enhance Brain Uptake of Anticancer Agents in Glioblastoma.” Louis joined the BHL in 2019 as an MD/PhD student studying the overexpression of drug-efflux pumps in glioblastoma and the development of a novel therapeutic strategy to increase brain uptake of anticancer drugs. Louis will now continue finishing his MD in the College of Medicine at the University of Kentucky. Congratulations, Louis!

Tiffany joined the BHL in May 2021 as a Master’s student in Pharmaceutical Sciences to work on the role of NOX2 as a new drug target in Alzheimer’s disease to repair blood-brain barrier dysfunction. Tiffany successfully defended and will graduate with a dual PharmD/MS degree on May 3. Congratulations, Tiffany!

Alzheimer’s disease patients develop blood-brain barrier dysfunction to varying degrees. How aging impacts Aβ pathology, blood-brain barrier function, and cognitive decline remains largely unknown. In this study, we used 5xFAD mice to investigate changes in Aβ levels, barrier function, and cognitive decline over time. Congratulations on your first author publication, Geetika!

Ute Hellmich, Professor for Biostructural Interactions at the Faculty of Chemistry and Earth Sciences, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry, and Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse at Friedrich Schiller University Jena in Germany, visited the BHL. We had a lively mentoring lunch with Dr. Hellmich, during which she talked about long hours in the lab and the importance of perseverance and shared her tips and tricks for success in academia.

Jasmine and Yingying were invited to join the UK Rho Chi Pharmacy Honor Society. Rho Chi is an international honor society that recognizes academic excellence in pharmacy. The society promotes pharmaceutical sciences and encourages fellowship and high scholastic achievement among pharmacy students. As a Rho Chi faculty member, Bjoern welcomed Jasmine and Yingying to the society members during the initiation banquet.

Drs. Vilma Sardao and Paulo Oliveira invited Anika to visit the Multidisciplinary Institute of Ageing and present BHL research on Alzheimer’s disease at the University of Coimbra in Portugal. Established in 1290, the University of Coimbra is one of the oldest universities worldwide and is a World Heritage Site, highlighting its historical role. Vilma and Paulo welcomed Anika on campus and, after Anika’s seminar, toured the research facilities and campus and shared their institution’s unique culture and traditions.

Our NIH R01-funded project on the role of bisphenols as risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease was highlighted in a UKNOW article. Human exposure to bisphenols is inevitable due to their widespread presence in the environment. Bisphenols are used in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins and are found in food containers, water bottles, and the lining of cans. Our lab is examining how bisphenols trigger blood-brain barrier dysfunction and memory problems and how this could accelerate Alzheimer’s disease. Read more: https://medicine.uky.edu/news/uk-study-chemicals-plastics-could-be-risk-factor-2024-02-28t10-04-28

The BHL team jumped into ice-cold water in the middle of winter at the Lexington Polar Plunge, a fundraiser for Special Olympics Kentucky that supports individuals with intellectual disabilities. The BHL team raised $750 for Special Olympics. The tradition goes back to 2011, when the first BHL members participated in the Polar Bear Plunge on February 19, 2011, in Duluth, Minnesota, with nearly 900 people jumping into Lake Superior at below-freezing temperatures.

Cheering on the Wildcats to victory, Anika was recognized as the “Power of Women” at the UK Women’s Basketball game at Rupp Arena. The University of Kentucky women’s basketball program has honored female leaders in the Lexington area with the “Power of Women” award since 2018. The commemorative basketball has now its home in Anika’s office.