What if we could design a personalized treatment to reduce women’s debilitating migraines?

We plan to elucidate the role of meningeal lymphatics in migraine, a debilitating neurological condition with high prevalence in women. Our breakthrough data shows that calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP), which is elevated during migraine, reduces lymphatic drainage resulting in neuroinflammation and pain. We will use the UNC Collaborative Cross to genetically map the variance of meningeal lymphatics between sexes and screen for loci that modify female prevalence of pain and lymphatic flow during migraine. Spatial transcriptomics and custom-designed molecular beacons will be used to illuminate and pharmacologically define the druggable receptor repertoire of lymphatics. These newly developed anti-CGRP drugs will be tested in a clinical study with MRI imaging. Collectively we aim to “Take FLyGT” by accelerating the pace of Female Lymphatic GPCR Therapeutics for Migraine Treatment.

Topic 4: Women's Brain Health