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.