To understand complex diseases, such as psychiatric disorders, we need to adopt a holistic approach that includes increased attention to the communication between different organs. For example, immune responses occurring throughout our body impact brain function and behavior.

A fundamental research direction in the lab revolves around the question of how peripheral immune challenges affect different neurons and their synapses (and if microglia are involved). We utilize multidisciplinary approaches from in vivo imaging to transcriptomics. By doing so, we aim to identify which specific cellular elements and circuits respond to and process peripheral immune information and how.

This goal is highly relevant at this time when we daily learn about the profound neurological effects of systemic infections.

Our work has the potential to pave the road for novel immunomodulatory therapeutic approaches, and suggest mechanisms linking peripheral challenges and behavioral responses.