https://www.diaz-castrolab.com/home daily 1.0 2024-02-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60a2b7b458099d6160bbe274/1621281730092-XUR8EOLZAQKMTLRPNC18/Picture+from+Mila+BioID2Aqp4-63X-CD31-HA.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60a2b7b458099d6160bbe274/a9632e1e-2378-49f2-bf6a-2d1c59606083/beautiful+picture+astrocyte+vessel+160621.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60a2b7b458099d6160bbe274/1621281017439-A7JP25XE40MMPUFH3KH1/UoE_Stacked+Logo_White_v1_160215.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60a2b7b458099d6160bbe274/1621280947042-P49UE4JP60QK586PHQ0G/UK+Dementia+Research+Institute_LOGO_WHITE.png Home https://www.diaz-castrolab.com/contact daily 0.75 2024-11-29 https://www.diaz-castrolab.com/publications daily 0.75 2025-11-14 https://www.diaz-castrolab.com/resources daily 0.75 2025-11-21 https://www.diaz-castrolab.com/lab-members daily 0.75 2024-11-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60a2b7b458099d6160bbe274/1df0ea3a-d1e2-4e7c-a32c-8b1a818431f2/Katrine+headshot.jpg Lab members - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60a2b7b458099d6160bbe274/b43d0cf0-0065-4c11-bd2f-ec9133116c6d/Chiara+picture.jpg Lab members - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60a2b7b458099d6160bbe274/1634491383216-FDSXSQAN6DYIEGQL6JKI/Steve+Hill.jpg Lab members - Steve Hill ~ Postdoctoral researcher Steve Hill ~ Postdoctoral researcher Steve received his PhD from Drexel University in Philadelphia where he studied the importance of astrocyte-mediated Sonic hedgehog signalling on neuron function. He joined the lab in July 2021 and is interested in using multi-omics approaches to investigate cellular interactions at the BBB in health and disease. When he is not in the lab, he enjoys exploring Edinburgh with his wife and two girls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60a2b7b458099d6160bbe274/c95da54d-f59d-49e9-93d6-78eb6cb25f61/Austeja.jpg Lab members - Make it stand out Austėja Čiulkinytė ~ PhD Student Austėja rejoined the Díaz Castro lab as a PhD student on the Wellcome Trust Translational Neuroscience programme. Her research focuses on characterising and detecting BBB dysfunction in ageing and early stages of neurodegenerative disease. Previously, Austėja has also been part of the Díaz Castro lab, first as a BSc Biochemistry Honours student and then as a research assistant, studying the morphology of astrocyte-brain endothelial cell interactions in neuroinflammation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60a2b7b458099d6160bbe274/a9879075-9578-4764-8d15-201aa94968f3/Ilaria+pic+for+website.jpg Lab members - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60a2b7b458099d6160bbe274/1625419178887-KS86X42670XQG8V1ORWZ/Blanca+From+Maca+Edinburgh+crop.jpg Lab members - Blanca Díaz Castro ~ Group Leader Dr Blanca Díaz Castro joined the UK DRI at the University of Edinburgh as a Group Leader in 2019. Her lab focuses on understanding astrocyte contributions to the function and dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier. She obtained her PhD degree in 2012 at the University of Seville - Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS) where she investigated mitochondrial dysfunction effects on neurogenesis and neurodegeneration. After a brief stay at Northwestern University, Chicago, she completed her postdoctoral research at University of California, Los Angeles. Her postdoctoral work was centered on the study of molecular and cellular aspects of astrocyte biology that contribute to neuronal function in health and disease. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60a2b7b458099d6160bbe274/1625418986225-JIHEZQ78OYPV38D0Y268/Isa+890f1108+crop.jpg Lab members - Isabel Bravo-Ferrer ~ Postdoctoral researcher Tobias Keene, D.D.S. Hailing from Richmond, Virginia, Dr. Tobias Keene brings a bit of unabashed Southern hospitality to all his patients. He moved to Washington, D.C. over thirty years ago as a freshman at Ivy College. Right after graduation, he attended World University’s School of Dentistry. Before opening Keene Dental in 1994, he worked for free clinics and some of the finest practices in the District. He is part of the 123 Dental Association and stays up-to-date on the latest dental discoveries. When not striving to keep his patients happy and healthy, he’s enjoys hiking with his family in Rock Creek Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60a2b7b458099d6160bbe274/0e49ccf3-2e7b-47f2-882b-47d0689f2527/Noelia+150922.jpg Lab members - Noelia Pérez Ramos ~ PhD student Noelia is a PhD student of the VIDA programme interested in the role of astrocyte-vasculature communication in peripheral inflammation. She had previously joined the lab during her integrated masters to characterise astrocytes in an amyloidosis mouse model. When she is not in the lab she enjoys cooking and hiking. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60a2b7b458099d6160bbe274/5d3fd0be-9190-4193-bbcc-c78b618da85a/Paula.jpg Lab members - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60a2b7b458099d6160bbe274/1625418894106-664MXFRE1CTFPD0J4Q9R/Carlos_picture+crop.jpg Lab members - Make it stand out Carlos Parra Pérez ~ Research Assistant Carlos Parra Pérez joined Blanca Díaz Castro's group at the UK DRI in November 2020 as an ERASMUS student and continued as a research assistant. He is developing different tools to help understand the interaction of brain endothelial cells and astrocytes. He obtained a Biology BSc in 2019 at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and an MSc in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biomedicine in 2020 at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. After working in our lab Carlos started his PhD at the CNIC (Spanish National Centre for Cardiovascular Research).