Darshan’s K99 application, “Neurobiological Significance of Aqp4 Stop Codon Readthrough” was recently funded! This work will explore how a variant protein channel that facilitates water movement across cell membranes may impact the brain in multiple ways. In general, the astrocytic endfeet contacting blood vessels are enriched for this variant protein, which may affect the magnitude and selectivity of fluid and solute movement between the cerebrospinal fluid and the vasculature. It is also possible that the fluid transport driven by AQP4 plays a role in the solubility and clearance of toxic protein aggregates in the brain, like Aß plaques in Alzheimer’s disease. Congrats Darshan–we’re excited to see where this work goes!