Josef Anrather

Josef Anrather is a Professor of Neuroscience at the Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College since 2016. His research focuses on understanding the neurovascular mechanisms underlying stroke, cognitive impairment, and dementia, with a particular emphasis on the role of inflammation and immune responses in cerebrovascular diseases.

His educational background includes:

• V.M.D. (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) from University of Vienna (Austria) in 1991
• M.S. from University of Vienna (Austria) in 1987

Dr. Anrather's laboratory has made significant contributions to understanding how immune cells interact with the cerebrovasculature in health and disease. His work has revealed fundamental mechanisms of neurovascular coupling dysfunction in conditions ranging from hypertension to Alzheimer's disease. A major focus of his research examines the role of border-associated macrophages, T cells, and other immune components in mediating cognitive impairment through vascular oxidative stress pathways. His landmark studies demonstrated how dietary salt intake promotes neurovascular dysfunction through gut-initiated TH17 responses, establishing a critical link between peripheral immunity and brain function.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a clear evolution toward more sophisticated methodologies including single-cell transcriptomics to dissect cellular heterogeneity in stroke response, with increasing emphasis on translational applications. His work bridges basic vascular biology with clinical relevance, particularly through preclinical randomized controlled trials examining immune-modulating therapies for stroke.

Dr. Anrather has secured substantial research funding from major institutions:

• Principal Investigator for "The role of dendritic cells in regulating the gut-brain immune axis in ischemic stroke" funded by National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke (2023-2028)
• Key Personnel for "Intestinal microbiota affect stroke outcome by modulating the dendritic cell-regulatory T cell axis" funded by NINDS (2023-2026)
• Co-Investigator for "Gut Immunity, Neurovascular dysregulation and Cognitive Impairment" funded by NINDS (2022-2027)
• Principal Investigator for "Stroke Impact (Stroke Immune Mediated Pathways and Cognitive Trajectory)" funded by Fondation Leducq (2020-2025)

His laboratory maintains a multidisciplinary approach combining in vivo models of stroke and hypertension, advanced imaging techniques, molecular analyses, and translational studies. The team investigates complex interactions between vascular cells, immune components, and neural tissue, with particular focus on how these interactions break down in disease states leading to cognitive impairment. Current research directions include examining circadian influences on stroke outcomes, mechanisms of white matter injury in ApoE4 carriers, and developing targeted interventions for neurovascular protection.