The central nervous system is metabolically highly active and requires an efficient system to remove the resulting waste, while failures in the clearance can cause neurodegenerative diseases. Currently the mechanisms which regulate waste clearance are not completely understood. Here we investigate the physiological role of the extracellular matrix in brain clearance, and the consequences of its dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease. We expect breakthroughs in understanding the mechanisms for metabolic waste removal from neuronal tissues, the pathobiology of Alzheimer's disease, and the roles of extracellular matrix in these processes.

2022

2026