SPP 2395 – Home

Welcome to SPP2395

SPP2395 is a collaboratively supported priority programme on microglia research. With more than 30 principal investigators in two funding periods, we are driving 36 innovative projects across more than 20 research institutes in Germany, Israel, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Finland. Together, we advance rigorous, transparent science to deepen our understanding of microglia in health and disease.

Our Mission

Microglia are the resident macrophages of the CNS, coordinating homeostatic regulation and mounting first-line immune responses. After two decades revealing their heterogeneity, the field is moving beyond simple “homeostatic” versus “disease-associated” labels toward context-aware biology in intact tissue. SPP2395 prioritizes in vivo investigation and the translation of preclinical insights using human post-mortem tissue, humanized mouse models, iPSC-derived human microglia, and patient data.

Aberrant microglia function as drivers of neuroaxonal degeneration in diseases of the white matter

Caroline Bergner, Stefan Nessler, Christine Stadelmann-Nessler

Aberrant microglia function as drivers of neuroaxonal degeneration in diseases of the white matter

Caroline Bergner, Stefan Nessler, Christine Stadelmann-Nessler

The continuum of microglial subpopulations to functional changes in multiple sclerosis

Chotima Böttcher, Zoltan Takats

The continuum of microglial subpopulations to functional changes in multiple sclerosis

Chotima Böttcher, Zoltan Takats

The cytoskeleton as a signaling node that contributes to microglia activation and diversity

Frank Bradke, Annett Halle

The cytoskeleton as a signaling node that contributes to microglia activation and diversity

Frank Bradke, Annett Halle

The role of microglial cytoskeleton proteins ADF/Cfl1 in learning and memory

Sophie Crux-Daseking, Martin Fuhrmann

The role of microglial cytoskeleton proteins ADF/Cfl1 in learning and memory

Sophie Crux-Daseking, Martin Fuhrmann

Multidimensional analysis and therapeutic targeting of microglia fostering brain tumor relapse

Charlotte Flüh, Rainer Glass

Multidimensional analysis and therapeutic targeting of microglia fostering brain tumor relapse

Charlotte Flüh, Rainer Glass

A humanized mouse model to analyse the age-dependent impact of gut microbiota on microglial diversity in the brain

Christoph Kaleta, Christiane Frahm, Christian Schmeer

A humanized mouse model to analyse the age-dependent impact of gut microbiota on microglial diversity in the brain

Christoph Kaleta, Christiane Frahm, Christian Schmeer

Myeloid Cell Diversity and Ischemic Stroke

Karen Gertz

Myeloid Cell Diversity and Ischemic Stroke

Karen Gertz

Elucidating the role of activated microglia in sculpting neuronal circuits after respiratory viral infections

Shirin Hosseini, Martin Korte

Elucidating the role of activated microglia in sculpting neuronal circuits after respiratory viral infections

Shirin Hosseini, Martin Korte

Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung

Microglial IL-10 expression and the impact of CNS-wide microglia responses on higher brain function

Steffen Jung

Microglial IL-10 expression and the impact of CNS-wide microglia responses on higher brain function

Steffen Jung

Desialyation as trigger of microglia responses in the aging and degenerating retina

Harald Neumann, Thomas Langmann

Desialyation as trigger of microglia responses in the aging and degenerating retina

Harald Neumann, Thomas Langmann

Microglial immunosurveillance of oncogenic isocitrate dehydrogenase (CONVINCE-IDH)

Lukas Bunse, Michael Platten

Microglial immunosurveillance of oncogenic isocitrate dehydrogenase (CONVINCE-IDH)

Lukas Bunse, Michael Platten

Mannheim Center for Translational Neuroscience

A novel in vivo human-mouse chimeric brain model to study human microglia specification and contributions to neuropsychiatric disease

Josef Priller, Simon Schäfer

A novel in vivo human-mouse chimeric brain model to study human microglia specification and contributions to neuropsychiatric disease

Josef Priller, Simon Schäfer

MacTrac – Tracking spatio-temporal trajectories of macrophage subtypes in inflammatory demyelination

Julio Saez-Rodriguez, Lucas Schirmer, Simon Hametner

MacTrac – Tracking spatio-temporal trajectories of macrophage subtypes in inflammatory demyelination

Julio Saez-Rodriguez, Lucas Schirmer, Simon Hametner

Epigenomic states of microglia driving central nervous system repair in humans

Leif S. Ludwig

Epigenomic states of microglia driving central nervous system repair in humans

Leif S. Ludwig

The role of CYLD and A20 in microglia in aging and autoimmunity

Ari Waisman

The role of CYLD and A20 in microglia in aging and autoimmunity

Ari Waisman

Chronic exposure to environmental pollutants and microglial molecular reprogramming in ischemic stroke

Corinne Benakis

Chronic exposure to environmental pollutants and microglial molecular reprogramming in ischemic stroke

Corinne Benakis

Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research

Microglia instruct the toxic microenvironment in transplantable leukodystrophies

Caroline Bergner, Stefan Nessler, Christine Stadelmann-Nessler

Microglia instruct the toxic microenvironment in transplantable leukodystrophies

Caroline Bergner, Stefan Nessler, Christine Stadelmann-Nessler

Actin cytoskeleton disturbance as a driver of cellular dysfunction and cell state diversity in microglia

Frank Bradke, Annett Halle

Actin cytoskeleton disturbance as a driver of cellular dysfunction and cell state diversity in microglia

Frank Bradke, Annett Halle

The role of microtubule cytoskeleton modulation in microglia and its effect on cognition

Sophie Crux-Daseking, Martin Fuhrmann

The role of microtubule cytoskeleton modulation in microglia and its effect on cognition

Sophie Crux-Daseking, Martin Fuhrmann

Microglial dynamics in retinal diseases: Müller cells and T cells as local and peripheral interacting partners

Cornelia Deeg, Antje Grosche

Microglial dynamics in retinal diseases: Müller cells and T cells as local and peripheral interacting partners

Cornelia Deeg, Antje Grosche

Spatio-temporal profiling of microglial heterogeneity and dynamics in glioblastoma

Felix Nebeling, Martin Fuhrmann

Spatio-temporal profiling of microglial heterogeneity and dynamics in glioblastoma

Felix Nebeling, Martin Fuhrmann

Microglial IL-10 and Csf1r dependence - harnessing mouse models to decipher microglia biology

Steffen Jung

Microglial IL-10 and Csf1r dependence - harnessing mouse models to decipher microglia biology

Steffen Jung

The role of translation in shaping microglial activation states during neuroinflammation

Michael Kiebler, Jovica Ninkovic

The role of translation in shaping microglial activation states during neuroinflammation

Michael Kiebler, Jovica Ninkovic

Microglial diversity in the remodeling of GABAergic synapses in corticolimbic circuits and anxiety-related behaviors

Dilja Krüger-Burg

Microglial diversity in the remodeling of GABAergic synapses in corticolimbic circuits and anxiety-related behaviors

Dilja Krüger-Burg

T cells as modulators of microglia-mediated neurodegeneration in Niemann Pick type C (NPC) disease

Sabina Tahirovic, Arthur Liesz

T cells as modulators of microglia-mediated neurodegeneration in Niemann Pick type C (NPC) disease

Sabina Tahirovic, Arthur Liesz

Genetic and non-genetic determinants of brain cancer-associated clonal myeloid cell dynamics and plasticity

Ilon Liu, Leif S. Ludwig

Genetic and non-genetic determinants of brain cancer-associated clonal myeloid cell dynamics and plasticity

Ilon Liu, Leif S. Ludwig

Influence of cytokines on microglial metabolism during Alzheimer’s disease

Alexander Mildner

Influence of cytokines on microglial metabolism during Alzheimer’s disease

Alexander Mildner

Spatiotemporally resolved microglial diversity and reciprocal interaction with the noradrenergic system in Alzheimer’s disease

Lars Paeger, Felix Strübing

Spatiotemporally resolved microglial diversity and reciprocal interaction with the noradrenergic system in Alzheimer’s disease

Lars Paeger, Felix Strübing

Trained Spp1+ microglial immunity in glioma – (TRAINSPOTTING)

Michael Platten, Lukas Bunse

Trained Spp1+ microglial immunity in glioma – (TRAINSPOTTING)

Michael Platten, Lukas Bunse

Charting CNS-endogenous innate immune responses across cells and species

Marco Prinz

Charting CNS-endogenous innate immune responses across cells and species

Marco Prinz

Elucidating sex-specific and disease-associated human microglia phenotypes and their contribution to Rett Syndrome

Josef Priller, Simon Schäfer

Elucidating sex-specific and disease-associated human microglia phenotypes and their contribution to Rett Syndrome

Josef Priller, Simon Schäfer

CD8+ tissue-resident T-cell regulation of microglia function

Mikael Simons, Doron Merkler

CD8+ tissue-resident T-cell regulation of microglia function

Mikael Simons, Doron Merkler

The deubiquitinating enzyme A20 as gate keepers of central nervous system homeostasis

Ari Waisman

The deubiquitinating enzyme A20 as gate keepers of central nervous system homeostasis

Ari Waisman

News

Martha Ulrich Poster Prize 2025
22.11.2025. The Martha Ulrich Poster Prize is awarded annually by the SPP2395 to PhD students or young postdocs and is dedicated to the first woman to publish on glial cells (Martha Ulrich, Monats f Psych und Neurol 28 (1910): “Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Stäbchenzellen im Zentralnervensystem”).
This year’s winners were selected in a poster competition during the Young Investigator Symposium 2025 in Munich. First place went to Buse Özbaykent from (Jovica Ninkovic’s Lab for her poster on the interplay between TDP43 and PGRN. Second place went to Irene Santisteban (Schäfer Lab Munich), and the third place was shared by Danilo Prtvar (Tahirovic Lab Munich) and Zoe Fusilier (Merkler Lab Geneve).

German Society of Neuroimmunology.
09.09.2025. German Society of Neuroimmunology (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neuroimmunologie - DGNIM) will soon be established. For more information, please register here.

New Funding Period officially started.
08.09.2025. SPP2395 held its second kick-off meeting in Berlin on September 8–9, welcoming 12 new principal investigators to the consortium. Over two days, concise project updates, in-depth Q&A, and interactive sessions on microglia research and translational pipelines sparked lively discussion on shared resources, data standards, and reproducibility. The meeting strengthened collaboration across labs and set strong momentum for the next phase of SPP2395.

Upcoming Events

SPP2395 Annual Meeting 2026: "Turku, Finland"

Recent Publications

REVIEW:The immunology of brain tumors.

Bunse, L, Bunse, T., Kilian, M., Quintana, F.J., Platten, M..

Sci Immunol 10, 112 (2025) doi: 10.1126/sciimmunol.ads0449 pmid: 41042911
Multicolor fate mapping of microglia reveals polyclonal proliferation, heterogeneity, and cell-cell interactions after ischemic stroke in mice.

Kikhia, M., Schilling, S., Herzog, M.-L., Livne, M., Semtner, M., Tay, T.L., Prinz, M., Kettenmann, H., Endres, M., Kronenberg, G., Göttert, R., Gertz, K.

Nat Commun 16 (2025) doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-63949-3 pmid: 40957877
Early Locus Coeruleus noradrenergic axon loss drives olfactory dysfunction in Alzheimer/’s disease

Meyer, C., Niedermeier, T., Feyen, P.L.C., Strübing, F.L., Rauchmann, B.-S., Karali, K., Gentz, J., Tillmann, Y.E., Landgraf, N.F., Rumpf, S.-L., Ochs, K., Wind-Mark, K., Biechele, G., Wagner, J., Guersel, S., Kurz, C.I., Schweiger, M., Prtvar, D., Shi, Y., Banati, R.B., Liu, G.-J., Middleton, R.J., Mitteregger-Kretzschmar, G., Perneczky, R., Koeglsperger, T., Neher, J.J., Tahirovic, S., Brendel, M., Herms, J., Paeger, L.

Nat Commun 16 (2025) doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-62500-8 pmid: 40781079

Myeloid cell-specific loss of NPC1 in mice recapitulates microgliosis and neurodegeneration in patients with Niemann-Pick type C disease.

Dinkel, L., Hummel, S., Zenatti, V., Malara, M., Tillmann, Y., Colombo, A., Monasor, L. S., Suh, J. H., Logan, T., Roth, S., Paeger, L., Hoffelner, P., Bludau, O., Schmidt, A., Muller, S. A., Schifferer, M., Nuscher, B., Njavro, J. R., Prestel, M., Bartos, L. M., Wind-Mark, K., Slemann, L., Hoermann, L., Kunte, S. T., Gnorich, J., Lindner, S., Simons, M., Herms, J., Paquet, D., Lichtenthaler, S. F., Bartenstein, P., Franzmeier, N., Liesz, A., Grosche, A., Bremova-Ertl, T., Catarino, C., Beblo, S., Bergner, C., Schneider, S. A., Strupp, M., Di Paolo, G., Brendel, M., Tahirovic, S.

Sci Transl Med 16, 776 (2024) doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adl4616 pmid: 39630885
Cell type mapping of inflammatory muscle diseases highlights selective myofiber vulnerability in inclusion body myositis.

Lerma-Martin, C., Badia, I. M. P., Ramirez Flores, R. O., Sekol, P., Schäfer, P. S. L., Riedl, C. J., Hofmann, A., Thäwel, T., Wünnemann, F., Ibarra-Arellano, M. A., Trobisch, T., Eisele, P., Schapiro, D., Haeussler, M., Hametner, S., Saez-Rodriguez, J., Schirmer, L.

Nat Neurosci 27 (2024) doi: 10.1038/s41593-024-01796-z pmid: 39501036

Participating Institutions