BBSRC Pioneer Award and MRC Career Development Fellowship recognise Dr Mootaz Salman's Research in Neurodegeneration and Brain Waste Clearance
BBSRC Pioneer Award and MRC Career Development Fellowship Recognise Dr Mootaz Salman's Research in Neurodegeneration and Brain Waste Clearance
We are pleased to share that Dr. Mootaz Salman, in collaboration with Professor Roslyn Bill of Aston University, has been granted funds from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council(BBSRC) to explore the mechanisms of brain waste clearance using organ-on-chip technology. Adding to this, Mootaz has also earned the competitive Medical Research Council (MRC) Career Development Fellowship.
The BBSRC funded project will focus on constructing a ground-breaking gliovascular interface on a chip, shedding light on the molecular intricacies of brain waste removal and aims to delve into the mechanisms of brain waste clearance using state-of-the-art organ-on-chip technology.
As the human brain accumulates waste throughout the day, the nightly removal process is crucial. Understanding this process is paramount, as the long-term build-up of waste is linked to neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Mootaz’s research emphasises the role of aquaporin-4 (AQP4), a water channel protein crucial for efficient brain waste clearance.
To test their innovative ideas, the team will employ a novel "organ-on-a-chip" system, designed by the Salman Group, simulating the 3D interaction between human astrocytes and blood vessels.
"It is an absolute honour to receive this prestigious award from the BBSRC and am excited to start this exciting project together with Professor Roslyn Bill."
Additional news can be read at:
Mootaz has also been granted the Medical Research Council (MRC) Career Development Fellowship. This fellowship empowers him and his team to craft advanced 3D microphysiological models such as 'brain-on-a-chip' and brain organoids. These models will faithfully replicate the physiology and functions of the human brain, utilizing patient-derived stem cells, gene editing techniques like CRISPR-Cas9, and cutting-edge tools, including organ-on-a-chip technologies.
I am delighted and honoured to receive this award, which represents a major milestone in my independent career. It’s pivotal to further establish my group. I am looking forward to closely working with my fantastic colleagues within The Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Oxford University and the Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery , and 5 years of exciting science.
Additional news can be read at:
Since April 2021, Oxford University's KAVLI Institute for Nanoscience Discovery is proudly serving as a hub for research groups from seven different departments spanning both the medical and physical sciences, including Salman Group from the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics.
