Welcome to the U19 - Neural Circuit Control of Fluid and Solute Clearance During Sleep

Sponsored by the National Institute of Health (NIH)

The U19 focuses on identifying the neural circuit mechanisms that control periarterial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pumping and glymphatic clearance of fluid and solutes. We have developed a collaboration to quantify CSF transport dynamics in both humans and mice across several scales, spanning molecular transport, neuronal and glial activity, vascular and brain-wide fluid dynamics. We suggest that coordinated neural activity during sleep drives global and local changes in blood volume, which in turn are the primary drivers of CSF transport. Our model establishes a novel conceptual framework, namely that neuronal circuits control clearance via their effects on astrocytes and the vasculature, opening an array of testable hypotheses across spatial scales and species. Together, the Projects provide a quantitative, circuit-based understanding of the neural mechanisms governing brain fluid flow and solute clearance during sleep.

Principal Investigators

Latest News

• Upcoming Annual On-Site Meeting: October 17-18, 2024 Rochester, NY. Hosted by Dr. Douglas Kelley 
• The U19 Trainee's gathered in the Poconos, PA for a special in-person meeting.