CORE B - ABSTRACT The goals of the Mouse VMN (vascular, metabolism, network) Core B are to serve the P01 Projects with cutting- edge methods specifically tailored to the P01 themes: Strategies for Targeting Astrocyte Reactivity in AD and ADRD (STAR-AD-ADRD). Astrocytes support brain function by integrating their roles with several cell types. They support neurons and regulate blood flow to supply and preserve active brain regions. Astrocytes become reactive in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Alzheimer’s disease related dementias (ADRD) and their functions are not fully understood. Our group at the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging including Drs. Wilcock, Thibault, Norris, and Nelson investigate roles of astrocytes, neurons and vascular pathology in aging and AD/ADRD brain. These research topics are inter-connected and the success of this P01 will move our understanding of reactive astrocytes beyond neuroinflammation constraints. Our VMN Core will provide multiple approaches to characterize the roles of reactive astrocytes on cerebrovascular function, brain metabolism and neuronal network activity. Moreover, results uniformly generated from our core will permit useful comparisons across projects. The Specific aims are to: (1) Coordinate for small animal surgeries and intravital imaging techniques, including training and oversight. (2) Coordinate all brain slice electrophysiology experiments. (3) Coordinate and provide service for microelectrode array experiments. (4) Coordinate and provide service for Magnetic Resonance Imaging experiments. Furthermore, our Core will work with the DMB (Data Management and Biostatistics) Core D, where the results will be stored, processed and easily accessed from our collaborative groups both in UK and beyond.