Live Intelligence
Radar
Chronological timeline of clinical trial updates, newly released atlas datasets, and critical developments in neuro-immunology.
Microglia and border-associated macrophages show opposing vascular roles in systemic inflammation
A mouse study separates the contributions of parenchymal microglia and border-associated macrophages to cerebrovascular and leukocyte responses during systemic inflammation, underscoring the need to distinguish CNS myeloid compartments.
Endogenous retrovirus derepression drives microglial inflammation and senescence
Multi-omic experiments connect loss of DAXX-mediated transposable-element repression with inflammatory and senescent microglial programs; newly generated sequencing data are public across five GEO series.
832,505-cell human myeloid atlas links a GPNMB-high state to aging and Alzheimer's
Profiling 1,607 donors resolves 13 human myeloid subtypes and identifies a phagocytic GPNMB-high microglial state that expands with Alzheimer's pathology, is enriched for polygenic risk, and depends on MITF and TREM2 biology.
Time-resolved neonatal atlas identifies a transient Numb-enriched microglial state
Single-cell profiling of neonatal mouse brain immune cells identifies a neurodevelopment-linked Numb-enriched state that peaks during the second postnatal week and is disrupted by neonatal inflammation.
Somatic lineage tracing finds bone-marrow contribution to aging human microglia
Analysis of 20 older individuals used accumulated somatic mutations and mitochondrial variants to identify bone-marrow-derived cells with microglia-like profiles in every examined brain, challenging a strictly self-renewing model of human microglial maintenance.
Field review argues against binary microglial activation labels
A Nature Reviews Neuroscience synthesis frames microglia as a multidimensional state space shaped by age, sex, genotype, location, environment, and prior immune exposure—reinforcing the limits of resting/activated and M1/M2 terminology.
Cross-disease neurovascular atlas shows disease-specific microglial reactivity
A repository of more than 250,000 mouse vascular and microglial cells finds comparatively stable vascular programs but strong disease-specific microglial responses, including convergence between late-stage TBI and Alzheimer's disease.
Human spatial atlas maps microglial transition at the Aβ–tau inflection point
Spatial transcriptomics and single-nucleus RNA-seq identify early inflammatory and late antigen-presenting plaque-induced gene programs, with distinct patterns in cognitively resilient octogenarians and centenarians.
Biogen concludes Phase 2 evaluating LRRK2 inhibitor BIIB122 in Parkinson's
Biogen and Denali Therapeutics' Phase 2 evaluation (NCT05348785) of the highly selective LRRK2 inhibitor BIIB122 in early-stage Parkinson's disease has completed its clinical cohort. LRRK2 is heavily expressed in microglia where it governs lysosomal degradation.
Denali Therapeutics completes Phase 1 trial for DNL919 ATV:TREM2
Denali has successfully concluded Phase 1 evaluation of DNL919 (NCT05450549), a TREM2 modulator engineered with their Transport Vehicle (ATV) technology to cross the blood-brain barrier for Alzheimer's disease.
Sanofi terminates Phase 2 trials for RIPK1 inhibitor SAR443820
Sanofi has ended its Phase 2 trials for the CNS-penetrant RIPK1 inhibitor SAR443820 in both Multiple Sclerosis (NCT05237284) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (NCT05630547) due to failing to meet predefined efficacy endpoints, despite prior evidence of robust target engagement.
Alector and AbbVie discontinue Phase 2 AL002 (TREM2) trial
The INVOKE-2 Phase 2 evaluation of AL002, an activating antibody against TREM2, failed to meet its primary efficacy endpoint in early Alzheimer's disease (NCT04592874), prompting the discontinuation of the program.
Kampmann Lab releases MICA (Microglia in vitro CRISPR Atlas)
A monumental open-source functional genomic screen profiling the transcriptomic and phenotypic consequences of knocking out thousands of discrete genes in human iPSC-derived microglia.
New methodology: Targeted cellular micropharmacies delivering anti-CD33 antibodies
Researchers published a proof-of-concept utilizing genetically engineered CD4 T-cells to deliver secreted anti-CD33 scFv antibodies directly to the brain, enhancing microglial phagocytosis and bypassing classical blood-brain barrier limitations.
Vigil Neuroscience terminates IGNITE trial for VGL101 (TREM2 Agonist)
The Phase 2 evaluation of VGL101, an activating monoclonal antibody against TREM2 for ALSP patients, has been halted (NCT05677659).