Completing Glial Cell Biology: A Historical perspective

NIH RePORTER · NIH · G13 · $50,000 · view on reporter.nih.gov ↗

Abstract

Abstract The history of glial cells is neglected in comparison to that of neurons, and this holds true a decade after the first grant application. We can debate about the possible reasons, including the fact that glial cells remain on the fringe of neuroscience, likely because they do not carry nerve impulse and cannot be compared to computers and Artificial Intelligence. A way to enhance the second-class citizen status of glial cells is writing their history. We are currently completing a humanities history book encompassing all glial cell types in the body. We aim for an historical narrative including interactions of glial cells with neurons limited to 5 years ago to avoid scientific artefacts. A decade and several thousands computer files later, the book manuscript merely feels like the tip of an iceberg, despite being a significant dent in the historical treasures waiting to be discovered and translated. The sheer amount of newly discovered material on glia is mind- boggling. This application requests funds to complete a thorough historical account from glia perspective, organized at the cellular level and presenting an up-to-date landscape of all glial cell type interactions with neurons. The book entices writing significant new material for both PI and contributors since no glia history book exists. Twenty two contributors and the PI spent a considerable amount of time to write and research their chapter, often in vast excess of words and references because writing from scratch. The editors successfully negotiated with publisher Wiley a word count increase from 160k to 200k. The current challenge is to finish writing and comply with this word limitation. Practically, a history book will guide scientific readership through the recent explosion of literature that is challenging to capture the whole picture of glia role in the nervous system. A widely acknowledged consensus among scientific historians is that an historical perspective on how our understanding of the nervous system has advanced will lead to new insights on how further advances can be made. No neurological diseases can be understood without an integrated concept of the complexity of glial cells within neuronal networks.

Key facts

NIH application ID
10795358
Project number
1G13LM014184-01A1
Recipient
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
Principal Investigator
Anne Isabelle Boullerne
Activity code
G13
Funding institute
NIH
Fiscal year
2024
Award amount
$50,000
Award type
1
Project period
2024-09-18 → 2026-09-17