Rafael Hoyos Justiniano

Causes and consequences of brain inflammation

Our project aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms that spark and sustain neuroinflammation, and to understand how these processes contribute to conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, depression, and anxiety. Despite rapid progress in neuroscience, major gaps remain: we lack precise biomarkers to detect early inflammatory changes, we don’t fully understand why some inflammatory responses are protective while others become harmful, and we have few therapies that can safely modulate these pathways. By digging into the fundamental biology of neuroinflammation, we hope to reveal new targets for treatment and chart a path toward better brain health for millions.