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Discover How Drug Developers Generate More Consistent In Vitro Assays
Building More Physiologically Relevant Drug Development Assays for Neuroscience
Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived microglia generated with precision cell reprogramming technology can create more reliable in vitro assays.
Building More Physiologically Relevant Drug Development Assays for Neuroscience
Building More Physiologically Relevant Drug Development Assays for Neuroscience

Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived microglia generated with precision cell reprogramming technology can create more reliable in vitro assays.

Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived microglia generated with precision cell reprogramming technology can create more reliable in vitro assays.

microglia

A 3D artist’s rendition of a macrophage.
What Drives Myeloid Cell Responses to Disease
The Scientist and Bio X Cell | Dec 17, 2024 | 4 min read
The TREM2 receptor may hold the keys to understanding how myeloid cells affect immune responses to neurological disorders and cancer.
Microglia and glial cells
CRISPR-Ready Cells for Target Discovery 
bit.bio | Jun 13, 2024 | 1 min read
A new iPSC-derived cellular tool with built-in Cas9 expression enables high efficiency knockout screening for drug target identification and validation.
A white and tan mother rat watches over several rat pups. 
Babies on the Brain
Hannah Thomasy, PhD | Apr 1, 2024 | 2 min read
In rats, motherhood leaves long-term biological signatures in a brain region that is crucial for learning and memory.
Stay Salty: Maternal Diet Affects an Offspring’s Neuronal Taste Circuit
Shelby Bradford, PhD | Mar 6, 2024 | 3 min read
Low salt intake during pregnancy in mice influences the pruning of extra synapses of the taste circuit later in life.
Mouse silhouette in a brain image
A Story of Mice and FIRE
Niamh McNamara, PhD and Veronique Miron, PhD | Dec 4, 2023 | 9 min read
Studying how microglia control myelin growth and prevent its degeneration helps scientists better understand and address neurodegenerative diseases.
An infographic showing how the lack of microglia causes myelin overgrowth and eventual degeneration.
Infographic: Microglia Influence Myelin Health
The Scientist Staff | Dec 4, 2023 | 1 min read
In FIRE mice, the lack of microglia causes myelin overgrowth and eventual degeneration, indicating that microglia may contribute to age-related neurodegenerative diseases.
Chiara Zurzolo and Ranabir Chakraborty stand next to a computer monitor displaying a microscopy image
Microglia Rescue Aggregate-Burdened Neurons
Charlene Lancaster, PhD | Jun 12, 2023 | 4 min read
Researchers discover that neurons trade protein aggregates for microglial-derived mitochondria through tunneling nanotubes. 
Human brain stock photo
New Insight into Brain Inflammation Inspires New Hope for Epilepsy Treatment
Deanna MacNeil, PhD | Jan 23, 2023 | 3 min read
Clinicians and researchers teamed up to investigate how inappropriate proinflammatory mechanisms contribute to the pathogenesis of drug-refractory epilepsy.
Artist’s rendition of a neuron silhouetted against a glowing red background.
SNO-y Protein Levels Help Explain Why More Women Develop Alzheimer’s
Dan Robitzski | Jan 6, 2023 | 4 min read
Female postmortem brains contain more S-nitrosylated C3 proteins, likely linked to menopause, which instruct immune cells to kill neuronal synapses.
Panels showing different kinds of microglia
Mapping Tool Reveals Microglia’s Shape-Shifting Secrets
Angie Voyles Askham, Spectrum | Dec 14, 2022 | 4 min read
The approach could help test hypotheses about how atypical function of the brain’s immune cells contributes to autism.
Microglia stained black
Opinion: Harnessing Microglia Cells to Stave Off Neurodegeneration
Kristine Zengeler, The Conversation | Dec 8, 2022 | 5 min read
Dialing up the activity of a protein called SYK in the brain’s “janitors” could provide an avenue to treat Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Rendering of a light blue NLRP3 inflammasome against a black background
Inflammation in Brain’s Immune Cells Triggers Depressive Behavior in Mice
Dan Robitzski | Nov 17, 2022 | 5 min read
In stressful conditions, specialized protein complexes in microglia induce neurotoxic activity in astrocytes that leads to the change in behavior.
illustration of neurons in blue and microglia in orange
Ancient Viral DNA Helps Mouse Brains Fight Infection
Natalia Mesa, PhD | Oct 24, 2022 | 3 min read
Mammals that give birth to live young may have evolved to make use of the remnants of viruses in their genomes to ward off pathogens, a study suggests. 
Capturing Brain Complexity in Assembloids 
Capturing Brain Complexity in Assembloids
The Scientist | Sep 20, 2022 | 1 min read
In this webinar, Jimena Andersen and Jens Schwamborn will describe the next-generation brain organoids that combine multiple brain regions and cell types in 3D cultures.
Artist&rsquo;s rendition of multiple <em>Neisseria gonorrhoeae</em>, the bacteria that causes gonorrhea, depicted as two spheres stuck together, each covered in tendrils.
Gonorrhea-Blocking Mutation Also Protects Against Alzheimer’s: Study
Holly Barker, PhD | Aug 5, 2022 | 4 min read
Research traces the evolution of a gene variant that reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, finding that it originally evolved in response to infectious bacteria.
Illustration of peach-colored microglia among light blue neurons. Both cell types are illustrated with multiple jagged extensions coming out of a spherical cell body.
Mouse Immune Cells Destroy Nerves’ Coating, Causing Chronic Pain
Patience Asanga | Jun 9, 2022 | 3 min read

A study suggests a way in which acute nerve injury could trigger an autoimmune response that leads to continuing pain in mice.

Ramified cells in a lilac background
Could Vitamin Supplementation Help Alzheimer’s Patients?
Alejandra Manjarrez, PhD | Apr 11, 2022 | 8 min read
Niacin, a form of vitamin B3 used to treat cardiovascular disease, helps immune cells in the brain fight neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s in mice models, according to recent studies. Researchers hope that human clinical trials will swiftly follow.
Image of brain cells showing pyramidal neurons in green, astrocytes in red, and microglia in blue
Replacing Microglia Treats Neurodegenerative Disease in Mice
Shawna Williams | Mar 17, 2022 | 2 min read
Researchers find a way to wipe out the brain’s immune cell corps and send in new and improved versions.
Translucent, red-orange organs are shown inside a person’s transparent, blue torso. One region zooms in on blue lung alveoli covered by bright orange microbes.
Bacteria in the Lungs Can Regulate Autoimmunity in Rat Brains
Dan Robitzski | Mar 17, 2022 | 4 min read
Making specific alterations to the bacterial population in a rat’s lungs either better protects the animals against multiple sclerosis–like symptoms or makes them more vulnerable, a study finds—the first demonstration of a lung-brain axis.
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