Dr. Marc Vila Cuenca (CADASIL & Orlova group) receives 125,000 euros from Alzheimer Nederland for his research into vascular dementia.
Mutations in the NOTCH3 gene are the leading hereditary cause of vascular dementia, affecting approximately 1 in 300 people worldwide. However, limited information exists on NOTCH3-related vascular dementia, and no treatments are currently available. This project aims to identify potential therapeutic targets for developing treatments against NOTCH3 vascular dementia. To achieve this, we will utilize a 3D brain Vessel-on-Chip model that combines microfluidic technology with cells from patients carrying various NOTCH3 mutations. This approach allows us to closely replicate the vascular wall damage seen in patients and identify key molecules involved in cerebral vessel degeneration. We anticipate that these molecules will serve as the foundation for developing targeted therapies for this common form of vascular dementia.
