Jens' project focuses on a fundamental question in neuroscience and mental health research: how interactions between the brain’s immune cells and neural circuits help maintain emotional balance.

Traditionally, emotions have been studied primarily through the lens of neurons and brain circuits. Jens’ project takes a broader view by investigating the role of microglia—the brain’s resident immune cells—and how they interact with neural circuits involved in affective processing. The aim is to understand how these immune–brain interactions contribute to healthy affective homeostasis, and what happens when this balance is disrupted.

Using whole-brain mapping approaches, the project will identify patterns of activity in both microglia and neurons and pinpoint key “affective hubs” where their interaction appears particularly important for emotional resilience. Jens will then functionally test these hubs using state-of-the-art circuit-level techniques to examine how microglia influence neural activity in real time.

By uncovering previously unknown microglia–neuron mechanisms, the project has the potential to provide new insights into the biological basis of affective disorders and to identify novel targets for future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

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