The dialogue between neurons and defences opens the door to new therapies against infections

Henrique Veiga-Fernandes

Project awarded in collaboration with the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

  • PROJECT LEADER

    Henrique Veiga-Fernandes

  • HOST ORGANIZATION, COUNTRY

    Fundación Champalimaud, Portugal

  • DESCRIPTION

    The immune system protects us from attack by pathogens. Scientists have recently discovered that on some occasions the nervous system also informs the defences about infections that exist in the organism.

    This dialogue between neurons and defences, known as the neuroimmune system, regulates the proper functioning of organs and protects us from illnesses, many of which have neither a clear cause nor effective treatment.

    The project seeks to understand the interactions of this system during infection in animal models and explore the molecular mechanisms of this communication, specifically, the pulmonary circuits during respiratory infections. Among other outcomes, such knowledge could be instrumental in developing new therapies to resolve the problem of antibiotic resistance.

  • PROJECT TITLE

    Unravelling pulmonary neuroimmune circuits during infection (Neurimm KISS)

  • BUDGET

    499.950 €