Researchers identify the role of cell receptor CD300a in efferocytosis, a process by which dead cells are eliminated from the body. Mice deficient in CD300a exhibited an increase in efferocytosis in the brain following the induction of stroke and treatment with a CD300a-blocking antibody lessened the severity of neurological symptoms in stroke-induced mice. CD300a may represent a potential target for therapy in the treatment of ischemic stroke.