Novo Nordisk Prize 2021: Marco Prinz

Описание: Facing the often-overlooked field of microglia research, Marco Prinz's journey, as highlighted in the video, sheds light on his pioneering work in understanding these vital brain cells. Beginning his career in the late 1990s in East Germany, Prinz focused on brain inflammation at a time when microglia were not well-regarded in neuroscience. His fortunes shifted in the early 21st century with the advent of new technologies that reignited interest in microglia research.

Prinz's studies led to the revelation that microglia are crucial for neuron nourishment and maintaining brain homeostasis. A significant breakthrough came in 2015 when Prinz and his team discovered the continuous communication between gut microbiota and the brain, highlighting microglia's role in driving brain diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and multiple sclerosis. His research has since uncovered hundreds of risk factors for these diseases and developed innovative methods to understand the microglia network during pathology. Now recognized as multitasking cells, microglia aid neuron survival, signal sensing, and synapse removal, acting as the brain's sensitive alarm clocks responding to environmental changes.

00:00:00 - Intro
00:00:06 - Early days of microglia research
00:00:22 - Role of microglia in the brain
00:00:30 - Marco Prince's research and impact
00:00:46 - Award and recognition
00:00:56 - Beginnings in Berlin
00:01:14 - Early research challenges
00:01:28 - Integration of East and West research
00:01:35 - Joining the Max Delbruck Center
00:02:00 - Shift to studying microglia
00:02:29 - Brain's immune system
00:02:50 - Shift to the United Kingdom and prion research
00:03:16 - Exposure to leading scientists
00:03:50 - Breakthrough techniques in the 21st century
00:04:06 - Green fluorescent proteins and microglia
00:04:49 - Importance of microglia in brain health
00:05:53 - Innovations in studying microglia
00:06:57 - Future of microglia research