The goal of my team is to develop numerical models for biological flows and transport that go beyond what is accessible to biomedical imaging. Our methodological developments build on classical numerical methods, which we extend and refine to adequately describe the biological system of interest.
The main focus of our work is on transport mechanisms relevant to the brain’s energy supply. Within this context, we aim to identify topological characteristics of the vasculature that enable a robust and versatile blood supply. Furthermore, we investigate the impact of microvascular alterations common to neurodegenerative disorders, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. A key principle of our work is to maintain a close connection to in vivo experiments and, whenever possible, to directly incorporate in vivo data.
Our research contributes to deepening our basic understanding of brain homeostasis. Moreover, it provides novel insights relevant to early diagnosis and treatment of common neurodegenerative disorders.
Franca Schmid 