The research of Ulrich Dirnagl is focused on stroke, cerebral blood flow regulation, and brain imaging. In preclinical models as well as clinical trials he and his coworkers and collaborators explore mechanisms by which brain ischemia leads to cell death, and develops novel methods to intercept mechanisms of damage in acute brain damage, as well as to foster regeneration and repair of the lesions.  He is particulary interested in how the brain protects itself ('endogenous neuroprotection'), and how the brain interacts with other systems of the body after it has been injured. Closely linked to his interest in stroke pathophysiology is his interest in the coupling of regional blood flow to neuronal acitivity, the mechanism underlying functional brain imaging with MR and PET. Beyond imaging structure and function of the CNS he and his team are developing, validating and using techniques that allow the non-invasive imaging of brain biochemistry and molecular signaling. To this end they use optical, MR, and nuclear medicine approaches in mouse and man. To improve the predictiveness of preclinical translational research he is actively promoting the introduction of quality standards for experimental design and reporting, as well as international collaboration in large, phase III-type preclinical trials. At the Charité Universitäts Medizin Berlin Ulrich Dirnagl serves as Director of the Department of Experimental Neurology, Chief Executive Director of the Center for Stroke Research Berlin, Clinical program coordinator of the Excellence Cluter NeuroCure and the Berlin partner site of the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), as well as Program Director of the International Graduate Program Medical Neuroscience.