Advancing Blood-Based Diagnostics for Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption in Stroke Using Next- Generation Molecular Tools

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) protects the brain from harmful substances in the blood. When the BBB is damaged during stroke, it can worsen brain swelling, increase inflammation, and lead to poor recovery. Currently, BBB damage is mostly detected using MRI scans, which are expensive and often unavailable in rural or emergency settings. This project will apply advanced molecular tools to discover new blood-based biomarkers of BBB disruption in stroke patients, with the goal of developing simple blood tests to improve diagnosis, monitor recovery, and guide treatment decisions in neurosurgical care.