Where do you see the field of neuroimmunology going in the next five years?
In the next 5 years we expect the field of neuroimmunology to expand rapidly by taking advantage of the constant development and application of new technologies such as RNA sequencing, mass cytometry, IPSC and gene editing techniques. This will lead to increased recognition of the neuroimmune system’s homeostatic levels of immune molecules as critically orchestrating normal brain function. Thus, the separation of the nervous and immune systems will become antiquated.
What are the most exciting discoveries in neuroimmunology within the past five years?
In the past 5-10 years we have seen significant advances in our understanding of neuroimmune interactions with landmark discoveries recognizing the involvement of the neuroimmune system in the healthy brain as well as in several neurological and psychiatric conditions (e,g, Alzheimer’s disease, traumatic brain injury, schizophrenia and depression). This prompted the current exploration and development of new immunotherapies to fight for example neurodegenerative diseases.
We believe that specific areas of major advances in recent years in neuroimmunology include: (i) anatomical and functional characterization of the meningeal lymphatic and glymphatic systems; (ii) deciphering the complex and bidirectional communication between the gut and the central nervous system, which constitutes the gut-brain axis; (iii) studies on the effect of viral infections on brain function in which both neurotropic and non-neurotropic viruses lead to neurologic sequelae that may persist and progress.
What are your goals for JNI?
Our goal for JNI is to shepherd outstanding science in the field of neuroimmunology to the broader scientific community. Our vision for the future is to advance JNI as the major forum to present and discuss clinical and preclinical findings within the neuroimmunology community.
EDITORS:
Robyn Klein (Washington University School of Medicine, USA)
Gregory Wu (Washington University in St. Louis, USA)
Laura Piccio (University of Sydney, Australia)