Despite the brain’s status as an immune privileged organ, extensive signaling takes place between the nervous system and the immune system during both health and disease. Neuroimmunology is the study of the interactions between nervous system and the immune system during development, homeostasis, and response to injuries. Immune cells and neuroimmune molecules such as cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors modulate brain function through multiple signaling pathways throughout the lifespan. By studying these communication pathways, we can increase our understanding of the pathology of neurological diseases, including those without clear etiology. Neuroinflammation and neuroimmune imbalance have been shown to underlie a variety of neurological disorders such as stroke, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Schizophrenia, neuropathic pain, and dementia. Faculty and students in Neuroimmunology strive to elucidate the interactions between the immune and nervous systems in autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, neurodevelopmental disorders, and psychiatric stress.

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