Blood-Brain Barrier: From Basic Mechanisms to Therapeutics*
Date: October 19, 2026
Time: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Room: Coral 2
Track: Interactive Lunch Workshop (ILW)
Session Description
This session will review the structure and function of the neurovascular unit in health and disease, with a focus on the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Faculty will highlight state-of-the-art techniques for in vivo BBB assessment and discuss their applications in advancing understanding of central nervous system disorders and therapeutic development.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to:
- Describe the structure and function of the blood–brain barrier and its role in brain health and disease.
- Compare key imaging modalities for BBB assessment, including dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) MRI and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI.
- Illustrate how BBB imaging can inform the pathophysiology and management of central nervous system disorders.
Speakers
Regional DCE-MRI Mapping of Vascular Integrity and BBB Permeability in Health and Neurological Disorder
Description
The integrity of the cerebral vasculature and blood–brain barrier (BBB) is essential for neurological health. Blood–brain barrier dysfunction (BBBD) is increasingly recognized as an important contributor to the pathophysiology of numerous neurological disorders. Advances in neuroimaging now enable in vivo assessment of subtle vascular and BBB abnormalities, providing new insights into disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.
This presentation will briefly review the mechanisms through which BBBD alters cortical network function and contributes to neurological disease. It will then focus on the use of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) to map regional vascular integrity and BBB permeability throughout the brain. Regional patterns observed in healthy individuals will be compared with abnormalities identified in neurological disorders. Clinical and research applications will also be discussed, including the potential use of DCE-MRI measures as biomarkers for diagnosis, risk stratification, disease monitoring, and assessment of therapeutic response.
Attendees will gain an understanding of how regional DCE-MRI mapping can characterize vascular density and BBBD, and how this approach may contribute to improved diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of neurological disorders.
Imaging the Blood-Brain Barrier: A Window into Diseases of the Central Nervous System
Description
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a critical regulator of central nervous system homeostasis, controlling the exchange of molecules, cells, and signaling factors between the circulation and the brain. Disruption of BBB integrity is increasingly recognized as a hallmark of numerous neurological disorders, providing valuable insights into disease pathogenesis, progression, and therapeutic response.
This presentation will examine the role of blood-brain barrier imaging as a tool for studying diseases of the central nervous system. Participants will review current methodologies for assessing BBB integrity, with a particular emphasis on dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Topics will include how advanced imaging techniques can quantify BBB dysfunction across a range of neurological diseases, providing clinically relevant biomarkers of disease presence, activity, progression, and treatment response. Examples from multiple disease states will illustrate the utility of BBB imaging in assessing overall brain health, and emerging applications for monitoring therapeutic interventions and guiding future precision medicine approaches will also be discussed.
Attendees will leave with a greater understanding of the role of blood-brain barrier imaging in neurological disease and practical insights into how advanced MRI techniques can improve diagnosis, monitor disease progression, and support the development of novel therapies.
