Nikolaus Plesnila

Research interests: pathophysiology and therapy of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, cardiac arrest-induced brain damage, traumatic brain injury, and age-induced dysfunctions with special emphasis on the neuro-vascular unit. Coming from the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI), Prof. Plesnila and team joined the ISD in October 2011. The Laboratory of Experimental Stroke Research is devoted to uncover the pathophysiology of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke as the basis for the development of novel therapeutic options for stroke patients. Accordingly, the laboratory of experimental stroke research has become an integral part of ISD’s translational research strategy. The main expertise of the laboratory gathers around experimental stroke models (transient & permanent focal cerebral ischemia, global ischemia, subarachnoid hemorrhage) and around methodologies for the investigation of the cerebral microcirculation (intravital microscopy using conventional and 2-photon excitation). The scientific focus of Prof. Plesnila‘s work is the role of neurovascular stress, degeneration (“vasculodegeneration“), and dysfunction for the pathopysiology of acute and chronic stroke syndromes. Specifically, the laboratory will work on the pathophysiology of microcirculatory dysfunction (including the blood-brain barrier) and small vessel disease (SVD).