Her aim is to understand, at the molecular level, the
mechanisms that control communication between the brain, immune system, and blood vessels — with the ultimate goal of
designing new therapies that slow, stop, or reverse the progression of a wide range of neurological disorders, such as MS. Recently, Dr. Akassoglou's lab identified how microglia — a type of immune cell that acts as the brain's first line of
defense — are activated when fibrinogen enters the brain or spinal cord.