Bipolar disorder is a major mental illness that affects over half a million Canadians. Research has shown that this mental illness is associated with increased inflammation in the peripheral/blood and in the central nervous system, but the link between peripheral and central changes is unknown. We will develop an in vitro model to test whether lithium, the a bipolar-specific treatment, prevents blood-brain barrier dysfunction.
Impact
If successful, this project will discover new potential new treatment targets for this devastating major mental disorder.
Student Experience
The PhD student Luiza Gea has received full funding from the Brazilian Ministry of education to spend one year in Dr. Frey’s laboratory at McMaster University to develop this in vitro model of blood-brain barrier dysfunction.
Countries
Brazil
Impact
Research, Global Partnerships
Institutional Partner(s)
Departments of Psychiatry and Pharmacology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (Dr. Adriane Rosa)
Community Partner(s)
Industry Partner(s)
Key Outcomes
Publications
Sponsorship
Foreign
Sponsorship Details
Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Brazilian Ministry of Education, Brazil
