Last year, Stavroula Piliou, PhD student at the University of Cambridge was awarded a BSI Career Enhancing Grant to attend the 2025Cajal Advanced Neuroscience Training Course in Bordeaux, France. Here, she reflects on her experience.
I was thrilled to receive the Career Enhancing Grant from the British Society for Immunology (BSI) to attend the 2025 Cajal Neuroimmunology Course in Bordeaux, an immersive training programme that brings together researchers from across the globe to explore cutting-edge advances in neuroimmunology. I applied for the grant because my PhD research at the University of Cambridge, Department of Pathology, focuses on developing AAV-based gene therapies for multiple sclerosis. The course offered an ideal opportunity to deepen my understanding of neuroimmune interactions, gain hands-on experience with new experimental techniques, and connect with experts in the field to help guide my future research and career.
The Cajal course exceeded all expectations. It featured world-leading speakers who presented state-of-the-art research on microglia, border-associated macrophages, meningeal immunity and the meningeal lymphatic system. I was particularly fascinated by discussions on neuroimmune crosstalk, cellular metabolism, and the dynamics of CNS immune populations in health, disease and development. The lectures provided new insights into disease mechanisms and highlighted how changes in microglial function and meningeal immunity can influence neuroinflammation. These findings are highly relevant for understanding neuroinflammatory conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, and suggest potential therapeutic avenues for modulating neuroimmune activity.
A major highlight of the course was the hands-on research projects, which I undertook in teams of three. I participated in two projects that provided highly practical experience. The first, ‘Following the steps for the creation of human microglia xenograft models’, led by Dr Renzo Mancuso, focused on the challenges of studying microglia in animal models or in vitro. We learned how to generate mouse xenografts with iPSC-derived human microglia and assess engraftment using flow cytometry and immunofluorescence. The second, ‘Neuroimmunometabolism: approaches and hypothesis-driven research’, led by Dr Luca Peruzzotti-Jametti, explored immunometabolism. We used BV2 cells for immunocytochemistry and Seahorse metabolic assays, extracted and cultured primary microglia from mouse pups and macrophages from bone marrow, and analysed metabolomic and publicly available single-cell datasets. These projects taught me new technical skills and emphasised the critical role of metabolism and species-specific differences in microglia, knowledge I plan to integrate into my PhD, as understanding chronic microglial activation could open new avenues for treating progressive multiple sclerosis.
One of the most valuable aspects of the course was the opportunity to interact with instructors, keynote speakers and peers. The open and supportive environment encouraged questions and collaborative discussions, turning many lectures into dynamic scientific dialogues. I also received mentorship and guidance on potential future research projects, including training opportunities in specialised techniques, collaborations on aspects of my PhD research, and advice on applying for UK-based and European fellowships to support postdoctoral work. These interactions provided invaluable insights, practical opportunities and inspiration for the next steps in my career.
The course also included memorable social and collaborative events. Informal evening discussions and poster sessions created a friendly, open atmosphere where participants could share ideas, discuss ongoing projects and build long-lasting professional connections. At the end of the week, each team presented the results of their projects, explaining their approaches and answering questions from instructors and peers. These presentations were both challenging and rewarding, providing an excellent opportunity to consolidate what we had learned, receive feedback and practice communicating our findings clearly. Overall, these interactions were enjoyable and ;instrumental in expanding my scientific network and learning from colleagues across different labs and countries.
Attending the Cajal Neuroimmunology Course has been a transformative experience for my career. I acquired a wide range of new skills and deepened my conceptual understanding of neuroimmunology. The course also provided mentorship and networking opportunities that will directly influence the next stages of my research and career development. I am confident that the knowledge, skills and connections gained through this grant will enable me to design more sophisticated experiments in my PhD and explore nnovative approaches for treating neuroinflammatory diseases like multiple sclerosis.
I am extremely grateful to the British Society for Immunology for supporting my attendance. This experience has enhanced my technical and scientific expertise and inspired me to think creatively about my research and future career. I would wholeheartedly recommend the Cajal Neuroscience Course to anyone seeking an immersive, hands-on and collaborative experience at the forefront of the field.