What we do
Our research focuses on the small blood vessels that delivery oxygen and nutrients to all reaches of the brain. In the human brain, an estimated 400 miles of blood vessels delivers blood to 100 billion neurons. This immensely complex task can easily go awry during human disease. When we are young, genetic and environmental factors can compromise the normal development of brain vasculature. As we age, leakage and blockage of small vessels can contribute to Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. Our laboratory studies how blood vessels grow, degrade, and respond to injury from birth to senescence. We use rodent models and advanced imaging approaches (multi-photon imaging) to study the various cell types that regulate cerebrovascular function in the living brain. We hope that our research will yield new ways to reduce to improve cerebrovascular function in brain diseases that affect both children and adults.
meet the team
We are brain imagers
Stephanie Bonney, Ph.D.
Stefan Stamenkovic, Ph.D.
Cara Nielson
Nicolas Weiterman
Maria Sosa
Anne-Jolene (AJ) Cruz
Alumni
Lab Updates
Potluck welcome for Catherine Foster
The Shih and Gust labs welcomed new post-doctoral fellow, Dr. Catherine Foster, with a Potluck party. It was a perfectly gloomy Seattle day and we were in cloud nine...
Read moreShih lab in DC – Society for Neuroscience 2023
Cara and Stephanie gave wonderful presentations at the recent SfN in Washington, DC! Cara’s poster was BUSY, giving her rare water breaks. Stephanie’s...
Read moreUshering in the fall
After a hot, dry summer, the Seattlelites were rejuvenated by some light rain on our faces. We headed to Old Stove Brewery near Pike’s place to celebrate a very...
Read more