We study the early and progressive changes in Parkinson's disease driven by alpha-synuclein pathology and its role in neurodegeneration. 

A major focus of our work is the immune response - not only the activity of microglia in the brain, but also the involvement of peripheral immune cells and lymphoid organs. 

Our central hypothesis is that the immune response in Parkinson's disease is dynamic and diverse - shaped by disease subtype, disease stage, and by biological sex. 

To explore this, we investigate both innate and adaptive immunity using a range of approaches:

• Rodent models that mimic in vivo complex disease mechanisms
• Cell culture systems for mechanistic insights
• Human biosamples from people with Parkinson's disease and other synucleinopathies

Ultimately, our goal is to better understand how the immune system contributes to Parkinson's disease progression and to uncover potential therapeutic targets.