Dritan Agalliu

Dritan Agalliu is an Associate Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology (in Neurology) at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, with a focus on neurovascular biology and blood-brain barrier (BBB) mechanisms. He has developed innovative mouse models to study BBB dynamics in diseases like stroke and multiple sclerosis, and investigates Wnt/β-catenin signaling in vascular development and repair. His work bridges molecular genetics, immunology, and clinical neuroscience.

Research Highlights:

• Discovered roles for Wnt signaling in BBB formation and repair
• Developed live-animal imaging models for BBB structural components
• Linked neuroinflammation to vascular and behavioral deficits
• Pioneered studies on immune cell entry in psychiatric disorder models

Scientific Recognition:

• 2020 Lamport Award for Basic Science Research
• 2016 PANDAS Network Research Innovator
• 2006 Doctoral Distinction in Genetics
• 1998 Cum Laude graduate

Contact: da191@cumc.columbia.edu | Agalliu Lab