Ava Nasrollahi is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of South Florida. There, she investigates how molecular changes in the vascular extracellular matrix disrupt blood-brain barrier integrity during aging and neurodegenerative disease. In this Postdoc Portrait interview, she discusses her foray into the field and what she hopes her research will someday achieve.
Extracellular Matrix Dynamics and Neurovascular Protection
Q | What scientific problem are you trying to solve?
The brain depends on a highly specialized network of blood vessels that supplies nutrients, removes waste, and protects neural tissue from harmful substances. This protective interface, known as the blood-brain barrier, begins to break down during aging and in diseases such as stroke and Alzheimer's disease. However, we still do not fully understand why this happens or how to prevent it.
My research focuses on the extracellular matrix—the structural scaffold that surrounds blood vessels and helps maintain the integrity of the blood-brain barrier. For many years, these proteins were viewed mainly as passive support structures. We now know they actively influence how blood vessels function, communicate, and respond to injury.
Using innovative proteomic and imaging approaches, I am working to identify the molecular changes that occur in this vascular scaffold during aging and disease. By understanding these changes, we hope to uncover new therapeutic targets that can preserve brain health, improve recovery after injury, and potentially slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.
Q | What drew you to vascular biology?
I have always been fascinated by how complex biological systems maintain balance and what happens when that balance is disrupted. During my scientific training, I became particularly interested in the relationship between blood vessels and the brain. While neurons often receive most of the attention, I was surprised to learn that vascular dysfunction can occur years before cognitive symptoms appear in some neurological diseases.
This realization shifted my perspective. I became interested in understanding not only the brain itself but also the vascular environment that supports it. What drew me most to this field is the opportunity to connect basic biological discoveries with clinically important questions. By studying how blood vessels age and respond to injury, we can potentially identify strategies to prevent or treat devastating conditions that affect millions of people worldwide.
The possibility that fundamental discoveries about vascular biology could ultimately improve patient outcomes continues to motivate and inspire my work every day.
Q | What’s one thing you learned from your research that you didn’t expect?
One of the most surprising lessons from my research is that some of the molecules once considered merely structural can have profound biological functions. Early in my training, I viewed the extracellular matrix primarily as a scaffold that held tissues together. As I learned more about the field, I was fascinated to discover that it also plays active roles in cell communication, tissue repair, and maintaining organ health.
I was also surprised by how much remains unknown about these structures despite their importance. The extracellular matrix is present throughout the body and plays critical roles in nearly every organ, yet many of its functions are still being discovered.
This experience taught me that major scientific advances can come from revisiting overlooked questions. Sometimes the most important discoveries are hidden in parts of biology that were previously considered passive or uninteresting. That lesson has shaped how I approach science and encourages me to look beyond conventional assumptions when exploring new research questions.
Targeting Vascular Scaffolds to Prevent Cognitive Decline
Q | If your research succeeds, what could it change for science or society?
This work could transform how scientists think about vascular health and neurological disease. Rather than focusing solely on neurons, we may be able to target the blood vessels and supportive structures that help keep the brain healthy throughout life. A better understanding of how the blood-brain barrier and its surrounding matrix change during aging and disease could lead to new strategies for preventing cognitive decline, improving recovery after stroke, and slowing the progression of neurodegenerative disorders. More broadly, our work may reveal principles that apply to blood vessels throughout the body, opening new opportunities for treating vascular diseases in multiple organs. Ultimately, the goal is to move from understanding disease mechanisms to developing interventions that help people live longer, healthier lives.
Q | What question are you most excited to answer next?
The question I am most excited to answer is whether changes in the vascular environment are a cause of neurological disease rather than simply a consequence of it. If we can identify the earliest molecular changes that occur before symptoms appear, we may be able to intervene much earlier and potentially prevent disease progression. I am particularly interested in discovering whether restoring the health of the vascular extracellular matrix can improve blood-brain barrier function and protect the brain from injury and degeneration. Answering this question could fundamentally change how we approach neurological disorders and open new avenues for prevention and treatment.
Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
Are you a researcher who would like to be featured in the “Postdoc Portraits” series? Send in your application here.
