Daphne Naessens receives two grants for research on brain cleansing

We are pleased to announce that our collaborator Daphne Naessens has been awarded two grants for her research “Imaging the human cerebral perivascular system”. She has received the Open Competition ENW XS grant from NWO and the Startstipendium from the Amsterdam University Fund (AUF).

Her research focuses on the mechanisms by which waste products are removed from the brain and how disruptions in this process may contribute to neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. While much is known about the accumulation of proteins in Alzheimer’s, relatively little is understood about how the brain naturally cleans itself.

Daphne will investigate how waste products are drained through fluid channels surrounding brain vessels (perivascular spaces) and how these connect to other drainage systems in the body, such as the nose, spine, and lymph nodes. A unique aspect of her study is the use of ultra-high resolution CT scans on deceased human donors, providing highly detailed insights into these processes.

A key part of the project is the collaboration with Bernadette de Bakker on the utilization of the micro-CT scanner to visualize the intricate drainage pathways in the brain at an unprecedented resolution. Additionally, there is potential collaboration with the Human Organ Atlas (HOA) Hub, involving HiP-CT scanning, which could provide even more detailed structural insights into the human brain’s waste clearance mechanisms.

These grants allow Daphne to establish a strong foundation for her project and apply for additional funding. Her research contributes to a better understanding of the brain’s natural cleaning mechanisms and may ultimately help develop new treatments for diseases associated with waste accumulation in the brain.