Decoding human microglia phenotypes in the context of neuropsychiatric disorders (A11*)

• Subject Area: Molecular Biology and Physiology of Neurons and Glial Cells ; Experimental Models for the Understanding of Nervous System Diseases
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 259373024

Investigating microglia biology on human cells is vital to develop personally tailored and disease-specific therapies. This project will use human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technologies and 3-D tissue engineering to decode context-specific human microglia states in healthy and diseased human brain environments. Our aim is to uncover pathways involved in driving the acquisition of context-specific human microglia states and those leading to functional derailment in neuropsychiatric disorders. We will use a multidisciplinary approach bringing together human iPSC technologies, dynamic imaging approaches, mathematical modelling, functional cell biology and single-cell genomics.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 167: Development, function and potential of myeloid cells in the central nervous system (NeuroMac)
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität München (TUM)
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Josef Priller; Dr. Simon Schäfer