Dear Colleagues,

Ischemic injury to the central nervous system (CNS), encompassing the brain and spinal cord, remains a leading cause of death and long-term disability worldwide. While cerebrovascular events such as ischemic stroke and spinal cord ischemia differ anatomically and clinically, they share common pathophysiological mechanisms including excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and blood–brain/spinal cord barrier disruption. Despite extensive research, the translation of neuroprotective strategies from bench to bedside has largely failed, highlighting the complexity of CNS ischemic injury and the need for integrative, cross-disciplinary approaches.

This Special Issue of Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark aims to bring together original research and comprehensive reviews that advance our understanding of ischemic injury across CNS regions. Topics of interest include molecular and cellular mechanisms of neuronal and glial injury, region-specific vulnerability (e.g., hippocampus vs. cortex; cervical vs. thoracic spinal cord), recent developments in in vitro and in vivo models, and promising therapeutic interventions—ranging from pharmacological agents to cell-based therapies. Particular attention will be given to studies that bridge experimental findings with clinical implications.

We welcome contributions from neuroscience, pharmacology, and pathology that help unravel the complex responses of CNS tissues to ischemia and propose novel avenues for treatment and recovery.

Prof. Dr. Moo-Ho Won
Guest Editor