206-884-1314
Andy.Shih@SeattleChildrens.org

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 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

Andy Shih, Ph.D.
Andy Shih, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Associate Professor
Catherine Foster, Ph.D.
Catherine Foster, Ph.D.
Post-doctoral Fellow
Pericyte control of brain capillary perfusion
Stephanie Bonney, Ph.D.
Stephanie Bonney, Ph.D.
Post-doctoral Fellow | NIH K99/R00 Fellow
Perivascular cells in small vessel disease
Stefan Stamenkovic, Ph.D.
Stefan Stamenkovic, Ph.D.
Post-doctoral Fellow
Deep multi-photon Imaging of microvascular perfusion in white matter
Yuandong (Jenny) Li, Ph.D.
Yuandong (Jenny) Li, Ph.D.
Post-doctoral Fellow
Pericyte dysfunction and oxygen delivery
Gökçe Gürler, Ph.D.
Gökçe Gürler, Ph.D.
Post-doctoral Fellow
Microglia and cerebral small vessel disease
Cara Nielson
Cara Nielson
Ph.D. Candidate
Mechanisms of pericyte structural plasticity in health and small vessel disease
Nicolas Weiterman
Nicolas Weiterman
Research Technician
Deep multi-photon imaging in a model of cerebral amyloid angiopathy
Liam Sullivan
Liam Sullivan
Research Technician II
Mouse tools for pericyte imaging and manipulation
Maria Sosa
Maria Sosa
Research Associate I | Lab Manager
Perivascular cell types in a model of cerebral amyloid angiopathy
Anne-Jolene (AJ) Cruz
Anne-Jolene (AJ) Cruz
Research Technician
Construction of brain capillary networks during postnatal development
Alumni
Alumni
Where they are now…

Lab Updates

Shih lab in DC – Society for Neuroscience 2023

Shih 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...

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Ushering in the fall

Ushering 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...

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SSSP-dinner-300x169.jpg

Seattle Children’s Summer Scholars

This Summer we had two wonderful interns, Marisa Petersen and Shelda Salomon, join our lab. They were mentored by Stephanie Bonney and Jenny Li, and rocked their...

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