The central nervous system (CNS), especially the brain, has long been regarded as an immunological exempted site. However, an increasing number of recent large-scale “omic” studies shed light on the cellular and molecular complexity of the CNS-associated immune landscape during development and under homeostatic conditions. While microglia represent the only parenchymal immune cell type in the healthy brain, cells of the systemic immune system can reside in CNS-associated areas, such as the meninges. Interestingly, the parenchyma is infiltrated by different types of lymphoid and myeloid immune cells due to various neurological disorders, including brain tumors. In addition, resident glial cells (e.g., astrocytes) usually become reactive in response to different stimuli and, together with recruited immune cells, generate a highly dynamic and inflamed microenvironment that significantly influences disease progression and outcome.

Hence, a deeper understanding of molecular and cellular changes in the neuro-immune landscape during health and disease is of great interest to develop novel treatment options targeting immune cells associated with the diseased CNS while preserving homeostatic functions.

Therefore, this collection aims to combine state-of-the-art methodologic approaches to decipher the vast area of neuro-immunology during health and disease, including:

-    (animal) models of neuro-immunology

-      immune cells of the CNS during development and homeostasis

-      neuro-inflammation and neuro-oncology

-      “omic” approaches for (un-)biased screenings

-      spatio-temporal characterization and monitoring of perturbations

-      getting the best out of human material

-      from bench to bedside and vice versa