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Research priorities for neuroimmunology: identifying the key research questions to be addressed by 2030

Research priorities for neuroimmunology: identifying the key research questions to be addressed by 2030
Research priorities for neuroimmunology: identifying the key research questions to be addressed by 2030

Neuroimmunology in the broadest sense is the study of interactions between the nervous and the immune systems. These interactions play important roles in health from supporting neural development, homeostasis and plasticity to modifying behaviour. Neuroimmunology is increasingly recognised as a field with the potential to deliver a significant positive impact on human health and treatment for neurological and psychiatric disorders. Yet, translation to the clinic is hindered by fundamental knowledge gaps on the underlying mechanisms of action or the optimal timing of an intervention, and a lack of appropriate tools to visualise and modulate both systems. Here we propose ten key disease-agnostic research questions that, if addressed, could lead to significant progress within neuroimmunology in the short to medium term. We also discuss four cross-cutting themes to be considered when addressing each question: i) bi-directionality of neuroimmune interactions; ii) the biological context in which the questions are addressed (e.g. health vs disease vs across the lifespan); iii) tools and technologies required to fully answer the questions; and iv) translation into the clinic. We acknowledge that these ten questions cannot represent the full breadth of gaps in our understanding; rather they focus on areas which, if addressed, may have the most broad and immediate impacts. By defining these neuroimmunology priorities, we hope to unite existing and future research teams, who can make meaningful progress through a collaborative and cross-disciplinary effort.

Behaviour, Central nervous system, Immunopsychiatry, Inflammation, Mental health, Neuroimmune interactions, Peripheral nervous system, Psychoneuroimmunology
2398-502X
194
MacKenzie, Georgina
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Subramaniam, Sumithra
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Caldwell, Lindsey J
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Fitzgerald, Denise
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Harrison, Neil A
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Hong, Soyon
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Irani, Sarosh R
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Khandaker, Golam M
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Liston, Adrian
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Miron, Veronique E
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Mondelli, Valeria
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Morgan, B Paul
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Pariante, Carmine
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Shah, Divya K
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Taams, Leonie S
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Teeling, Jessica L
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Upthegrove, Rachel
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MacKenzie, Georgina
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Subramaniam, Sumithra
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Caldwell, Lindsey J
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Fitzgerald, Denise
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Harrison, Neil A
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Hong, Soyon
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Irani, Sarosh R
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Khandaker, Golam M
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Liston, Adrian
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Miron, Veronique E
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Mondelli, Valeria
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Morgan, B Paul
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Pariante, Carmine
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Shah, Divya K
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Taams, Leonie S
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Teeling, Jessica L
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Upthegrove, Rachel
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MacKenzie, Georgina, Subramaniam, Sumithra, Caldwell, Lindsey J, Fitzgerald, Denise, Harrison, Neil A, Hong, Soyon, Irani, Sarosh R, Khandaker, Golam M, Liston, Adrian, Miron, Veronique E, Mondelli, Valeria, Morgan, B Paul, Pariante, Carmine, Shah, Divya K, Taams, Leonie S, Teeling, Jessica L and Upthegrove, Rachel (2021) Research priorities for neuroimmunology: identifying the key research questions to be addressed by 2030. Wellcome Open Research, 6, 194, [194]. (doi:10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16997.1).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Neuroimmunology in the broadest sense is the study of interactions between the nervous and the immune systems. These interactions play important roles in health from supporting neural development, homeostasis and plasticity to modifying behaviour. Neuroimmunology is increasingly recognised as a field with the potential to deliver a significant positive impact on human health and treatment for neurological and psychiatric disorders. Yet, translation to the clinic is hindered by fundamental knowledge gaps on the underlying mechanisms of action or the optimal timing of an intervention, and a lack of appropriate tools to visualise and modulate both systems. Here we propose ten key disease-agnostic research questions that, if addressed, could lead to significant progress within neuroimmunology in the short to medium term. We also discuss four cross-cutting themes to be considered when addressing each question: i) bi-directionality of neuroimmune interactions; ii) the biological context in which the questions are addressed (e.g. health vs disease vs across the lifespan); iii) tools and technologies required to fully answer the questions; and iv) translation into the clinic. We acknowledge that these ten questions cannot represent the full breadth of gaps in our understanding; rather they focus on areas which, if addressed, may have the most broad and immediate impacts. By defining these neuroimmunology priorities, we hope to unite existing and future research teams, who can make meaningful progress through a collaborative and cross-disciplinary effort.

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Accepted/In Press date: 29 July 2021
Published date: 29 July 2021
Keywords: Behaviour, Central nervous system, Immunopsychiatry, Inflammation, Mental health, Neuroimmune interactions, Peripheral nervous system, Psychoneuroimmunology

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 453076
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/453076
ISSN: 2398-502X
PURE UUID: 118803cb-4a34-41a3-a342-9038fc88887c
ORCID for Jessica L Teeling: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-4004-7391

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Date deposited: 07 Jan 2022 17:51
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 03:00

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Contributors

Author: Georgina MacKenzie
Author: Sumithra Subramaniam
Author: Lindsey J Caldwell
Author: Denise Fitzgerald
Author: Neil A Harrison
Author: Soyon Hong
Author: Sarosh R Irani
Author: Golam M Khandaker
Author: Adrian Liston
Author: Veronique E Miron
Author: Valeria Mondelli
Author: B Paul Morgan
Author: Carmine Pariante
Author: Divya K Shah
Author: Leonie S Taams
Author: Rachel Upthegrove

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