The physiological state of an organism is continuously shaped by environmental stimuli and, in turn, profoundly influences brain function. Emerging evidence has highlighted the pivotal role of glial cells in mediating communication between the central nervous system and peripheral tissues. Acting as a critical interface, glial cells convey information about the body's internal state to the brain while also transmitting signals from the brain to peripheral organs and tissues. Consequently, the development of innovative methodologies for decoding glial signaling pathways ("glia decoding") is essential for advancing our understanding of brain–body interactions and their roles in health and disease.

This Collection highlights the rapidly expanding array of technologies and methodologies for investigating glial cell function and elucidating mechanisms of brain–body communication. Topics of interest include in vivo optical imaging and recording of signaling events in glial cells, vascular networks, and immune cells. The Collection also welcomes advances in transcriptomic and proteomic profiling of glial cells, emerging approaches for the isolation and analysis of extracellular vesicles and exosomes, and innovative computational and data-processing techniques for interpreting complex biological datasets.

Together, these methodologies provide powerful tools for uncovering the dynamic roles of glial cells in regulating physiological and pathological processes across organ systems.