Glial cells are a type of non-neuronal cell found in the brain, spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system. For many years glial cells were thought to act merely as neuronal support cells, providing the “glue” to protect nerve cells. This perception changed when new technologies, including three-dimensional imaging and novel sequencing methods, made it possible to rigorously study the function of these cells. Far from only providing passive mechanical support, glial cells act as active participants in disease and are able to function as immune effectors.
Mikalena’s project builds on the work of her co-supervisor, Fränze Progatzky, who found that glial cells in the gut play a crucial role in orchestrating intestinal immunity. Mikalena will investigate the role of glial cells in the synovium – the tissue that lines our joints and allows them to move smoothly. Her study will take place in the context of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with the aim to uncover the role of this understudied cell type in this debilitating and prevalent condition.
About her Fellowship, Mikalena said ‘I am very excited to undertake this fellowship and hope to contribute to our understanding of inflammation in RA by uncovering the function of an underappreciated cell type.’
Mikalena’s Fellowship builds on her two-year collaboration with co-supervisor Christopher Buckley, during which she worked on a Wellcome Trust funded study exploring the role of fibroblasts as drivers of pain in RA. Alongside her DPhil studies, Mikalena will continue to see patients with RA and other inflammatory conditions in her rheumatology clinic at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre.
Fränze Progatzky said: 'I am excited that Mikalena has been awarded a prestigious MRC Clinical Research Training Fellowship to study the role of glial cells in RA. Her clinical perspective will be invaluable in advancing fundamental research and uncovering unprecedented insights into the cellular interactions underlying RA pathology involving this long-overlooked cell type.'