Neuroinflammation research group

01.06.2015 -

Research group

The goal of the Neuroinflammation research group is to understand inflammatory cell functions, especially those of microglia and astrocytes and mechanisms and mediators of inflammatory reactions in neurodegenerative diseases, especially Alzheimers disease and stroke. We use interdiciplinary approaches and human based models to find novel targets for modulation of neuroinflammation for the disease benefit.

We believe that proper engagement of beneficial microglial functions offers means to combat neurodegenerative diseases. Our research aims at finding not only disease specific but also common mechanism of neuroinflammation and how these can be taken advantage to modulate neuroinflammation for CNS benefit.

Research interests
• To form a functional fingerprint of microglia-neuron crosstalk in health and disease
• To identify secreted mediators of this intercellular crosstalk, such as EVs
• To identify how neuroinflammation is regulated at the level of non-conding RNAs
• To identify novel treatment strategies to modulate neuroinflammation for CNS benefit

We use novel, human-based models to find new therapeutic targets for the disease benefit and to discover novel biomarkers. We develop new human iPSC-based models including microglia and immunocompetent organoids and use living human brain tissue biopsies. We investigate cellular responses using various omics approaches at the single cell level, electrophysiology and microscopy techniques. In addition, we take advantage of animal modelling with functional outcomes. We utilize several both transgenic and surgically induced animal models of neurodegeneration, especially Alzheimer’s disease and stroke. We carry out research using APP/PS1 and 5XFAD mice to model Alzheimer’s disease and permanent and transient stroke models. The functional outcome is measured by using various behavioral tests with long term follow up time.

Homepage of research group

Keywords

abeta astrocyte brain-immune interactions clearance exosome JPND live cell imaging microglia multiphoton imaging neuroinflammation non-coding RNA sequencing stroke synapse