The BSI is planning a new initiative on the biology of the blood brain barrier and cerebral vasculature for the upcoming year, 2008/2009. The purpose of this initiative is to aid in the development of new collaborations or facilitate ongoing collaborations for faculty investigating the biological underpinnings of the blood brain barrier and its relationship to overall cerebral vasculature. We would hope to further develop a research program at Johns Hopkins on molecular, protein and cellular properties of the blood brain barrier. Ultimately, better understanding of the blood brain barrier would facilitate treatments for brain and spinal cord diseases. One of the greatest hindrances towards new therapeutics for neural diseases is entry of therapeutics through the blood brain barrier. As with other BSI initiatives, we hope to bring together a working group that can initiate discussions about novel collaborative enterprises among Hopkins faculty. To start off this new program, we hope to identify faculty at Johns Hopkins who have interest in blood brain barrier and cerebral vasculature. We would then plan to follow up with the development of a working group for blood brain barrier, and ultimately funding for collaborative research grants. To initiate this new endeavour, we would like those of you interested in joining such a working group to email brainscience@jhmi.edu so that we can gather a list of faculty for an upcoming working group meeting. | 
