Alwin Kamermans

This project aims to determine how activation of microglia, which are the brain-resident immune cells, and microglia-neuron interaction contributes to neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration, particularly in multiple sclerosis (MS) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The roll of Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling in microglia activation and microglia-neuron interaction is explored. Newly engineered TLR ligands that can be photochemically activated will be used to induce microglia activation. Physiological and immunological effects will be studied in iPSC-derived microglia-neuron co-cultures, MS and AD animal models and post mortem tissue of MS and AD patients.