CAJAL Advanced Neuroscience Training Programme – Neuroimmunology

Bordeaux School of Neuroscience, France

I just had the privilege of spending one intensive week at the Bordeaux School of Neuroscience as part of the Cajal Advanced Neuroscience Training Programme.

The course, titled "Neuroimmunology in Physiology and Disease," was designed to bridge the gap between fundamental concepts and advanced hands-on training. While the curriculum covered everything from microglia in brain homeostasis to adaptive immunity, my personal highlight was witnessing the students’ growing passion for the emerging field of neuroimmunometabolism.

We dove deep into the concept that the mitochondrion is not just the "powerhouse" of the cell, but a critical signaling hub. Working with this group of wonderful students, we examined how immune cells exhibit metabolic plasticity—switching between aerobic glycolysis for pro-inflammatory states and mitochondrial respiration for repair states.

What made this training truly special was the caliber of the students. From wet-lab techniques to computational analysis, their enthusiasm was infectious. We moved beyond theory into rigorous practice, employing sophisticated methodologies to test our hypotheses.

The "neuroimmune dialogue" is complex, shaping everything from whole-body metabolism to the trajectory of neurodegenerative diseases. Seeing these students master techniques like flow cytometry, histology, and metabolic profiling gives me immense confidence in the future of our field!