Mind Your Head

Just like the rest of your body, your brain needs a defensive team to fight off invading pathogens. Marco’s research focuses on the innate immune system of the brain, particularly cells called microglia. These serve as the first defensive barrier of the brain, and play key roles in the resolution of brain damage. Marco’s work uses models of multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease to learn about how this valuable cell develops and works.

A remarkable property of the human brain is its ability to respond to stimuli with lasting structural, functional and molecular adaptations. This ‘plasticity’ is essential for complex brain function, such as learning and memory formation. While work from the past 40 years has focused on deciphering the mechanisms of neural plasticity, its role in pathological brain conditions remains not well-understood. My presentation will focus on some clinical approaches we are currently exploring in the lab, which aim at modulating the ability of neurons to express plasticity in pathological conditions.