Microglia are tissue macrophages that populate the mammalian central nervous system (CNS) very early in embryonic development. By adulthood, microglia are found in all regions of the brain and spinal cord and comprise 10-15% of the total cells in the CNS.  Despite a century of study, the in vivo function of microglia is still a subject of debate. 

What do we know?

1. 1)Microglial activation is one of the most common and earliest features of nearly all neuroinflammatory disorders (including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, spinal cord injury, encephalitis and multiple sclerosis). 
   

2. 2)Therefore, microglia are poised to contribute to either the onset, progression OR the resolution and repair observed during neuroinflammatory disease.
   

3. 3)In vitro assays of microglial function have conclusively demonstrated their ability to acquire either neurotoxic OR neuroprotective functions.
   

Challenges:

1. 1)To define the molecular mechanisms directing microglial function toward cytotoxic versus cytoprotective and/or anti-inflammatory functions
   

2. 2)To test in vivo, whether manipulation of microglial or macrophage phenotype can alter onset, progression and resolution of neuroinflammatory disease.
   

3. 3)To identify and test therapeutic points of intervention that are disease-specific, age-specific or region-specific for CNS inflammatory disorders.