The conference aims to provide novel insights into

1.       Latest advances in the area of barrier model systems

2.       The pathophysiology of cerebrovascular and related neuronal diseases associated with changes in drug transport mechanisms and tight junction formation

3.       Cutting edge brain delivery technologies.

Likewise, approaches and perspectives not only from cell culture process and tissue engineers, representatives of translational pharmacokinetics and blood-brain barrier diagnostics but also from vascular physiologists, pharmacologists and neurologists as well as from drug delivery experts are to be combined. In particular, recent findings and developments in the establishment of human pluripotent stem cells as renewable source for endothelial blood-brain barrier (BBB) cells or to microengineered, multicellular BBB structures using a microfluidic chip will be addressed. Moreover, pharmacokinetic models with the purpose to predict drug distribution and permeation into the brain and diagnostic markers will be introduced. The Zing Barriers of the CNS Conference will also refer to cerebrovascular diseases focusing on transporter signaling, the release of biomarkers and changes in tight junction formation that can occur in oncology, during stroke, epilepsy, Alzheimer`s or Parkinson`s disease e.g. including immunological aspects, too. Additionally, autophagocytotic mechanisms and lysosomal storage diseases (Gaucher disease, Sanfilippo syndrome, Hunter syndrome, leukodystrophies) will be featured. To meet the medical needs of an efficient enzyme replacement therapy of lysosomal storage diseases e.g. the latest formulation approaches in the drug delivery field – ranging from fusion proteins, bispecific antibody constructs, modified liposomes, exosomes or nanoparticles or the application of ultrasound – to overcome the blood-brain barrier via receptor-mediated, transcytotic mechanisms will be highlighted in detail.