Cellular and Animal Models of Neurodegenerative and Neuroinflammatory Conditions

Glial cells and brain inflammation play a pivotal role in most neurological and neurodegenerative conditions. Over the past years, significant efforts have been made in the development and characterization of animal and cellular models of these diseases, aiming to translate novel discoveries toward clinical applications. Nonetheless, the scarce translation value of these discoveries into clinics emphasizes the need for further unveiling the pathological events governing these diseases. Recent studies have shown promising results using humanized animal models and human pluripotent stem cell technologies, which offer a more accurate representation of human disease pathology. However, there remains a significant gap in understanding the complex interactions between glial cells, neurons, and inflammatory processes in the brain, necessitating more comprehensive and multidisciplinary research approaches.

This Research Topic aims to advance the understanding of neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory conditions by focusing on the development and characterization of new animal and cellular models. The main objectives include identifying and describing novel models that can better mimic human disease conditions, evaluating the efficacy of potential therapeutic interventions, and exploring the underlying mechanisms of disease progression. Specific questions to be addressed include: What are the key pathological events in neurodegenerative diseases? How can humanized models improve the translation of preclinical findings to clinical settings? What role do glial cells play in the progression of brain inflammation?

To gather further insights into the complexities of neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory conditions, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

- Characterization of new models relevant to neurological diseases and brain inflammation.
- Studies employing new cellular and animal models focused on neurological diseases and brain inflammation.
- Studies employing human pluripotent stem-cell-derived neuronal and glial cells for neurological diseases.
- Evaluation of candidate therapies for neurological and/or neurodegenerative diseases.
- Modeling of neurological diseases and conditions related to brain inflammation.

We look forward to your contributions to this important and evolving field of research.