Emma Gerrits Msc.

Title: Microglia phenotypes in neurodegenerative diseases and aging

Project: My project is focused on the role of microglia in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease. Microglia exert many functions in the brain, resulting in a whole spectrum of microglial phenotypes. Several functions of microglia are associated with the immune system, where microglia function as macrophages and secrete cytokines. To study their role in neurodegenerative disease, we work with human post-mortem brain tissue obtained from the Dutch Brainbank, from which we isolate microglia. In order to further elucidate microglia phenotypes in these diseases, I focus on (single-cell) transcriptomics and bioinformatics.

Promotors: Erik Boddeke and Bart Eggen

Funding: AbbVie