Home Department: Undeclared
Mentor: Gary Steinberg (Neurosurgery and Neurosciences)

"Major Intracranial Arteries as Predictors of Collateral Formation"

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death. The development of collateral vessels contributes to stroke, yet its mechanisms remain unclear. Aja previously discovered that narrowing of the posterior cerebral artery contributes to collateral formation in the thalamus. She will expand this work by investigating whether the anterior and middle cerebral arteries influence collateral formation in other brain regions. Aja will also measure cerebral blood flow and evaluate whether RNF213 mutations contribute to the formation of these collaterals. These findings could provide preliminary evidence to guide future clinical trials and reduce stroke burden in nearly eight million Americans.