Siegert Group
Microglia-Neuron Interaction
Research on brain function has traditionally focused on how environmental signals are encoded within complex neuronal networks, while the contribution of the immune system—particularly microglia—was largely overlooked. The Siegert group investigates how neurons and microglia communicate and how dysfunctions in this interaction affect neuronal circuit formation and function in health and disease.
Microglia are the CNS-resident macrophages that continuously monitor and respond to their neuronal environment, not only during pathogenic challenges but also under physiological conditions. Recent studies, including our own, demonstrate that microglia adapt to defined environmental cues and can profoundly influence established circuit elements, such as synapses and the extracellular matrix.
However, the specific cues that drive these microglial responses, the underlying molecular mecha-nisms, and the resulting consequences for neuronal function in the adult brain remain poorly under-stood. The goal of the Siegert group is to discover how environmental factors shape microglial signal-ing and how these responses influence neuronal circuit function and behavior.
Group Leader
Administrative Support
Team
Current Projects
Disentangle the morph-functional relationship of microglia | How to alter microglia function and pinpoint the consequences on the neuronal network | Microglia-neuron interaction in the human context
For further details, see also the lab webpage below.
Publications
Hübschmann V, Korkut M, Venturino A, Maya-Arteaga JP, Siegert S. 2025. Microglia determine an immune-challenged environment and facilitate ibuprofen action in human retinal organoids. Journal of Neuroinflammation. 22(1), 98. View
Miteva FE, Maes ME, Alamalhoda M, Firoozi A, Colombo G, Siegert S. 2025. Optic nerve crush does not induce retinal ganglion cell loss in the contralateral eye. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 66(3), 49. View
Michalska JM, Lyudchik J, Velicky P, Korinkova H, Watson J, Cenameri A, Sommer CM, Amberg N, Venturino A, Roessler K, Czech T, Höftberger R, Siegert S, Novarino G, Jonas PM, Danzl JG. 2024. Imaging brain tissue architecture across millimeter to nanometer scales. Nature Biotechnology. 42, 1051–1064. View
Maes ME, Colombo G, Schoot Uiterkamp FE, Sternberg F, Venturino A, Pohl EE, Siegert S. 2023. Mitochondrial network adaptations of microglia reveal sex-specific stress response after injury and UCP2 knockout. iScience. 26(10), 107780. View
Hübschmann V, Korkut M, Siegert S. 2022. Assessing human iPSC-derived microglia identity and function by immunostaining, phagocytosis, calcium activity, and inflammation assay. STAR Protocols. 3(4), 101866. View
ReX-Link: Sandra Siegert
Career
Since 2023 Professor, Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA)
2015 – 2023 Assistant Professor, Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA)
2011 – 2015 Postdoctoral Associate, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA
2010 PhD, Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
Selected Distinctions
2023 Horizon 2020 – ERC Proof-of-Concept
2023 FWF Stand Alone Grant
2019 SFN “Hot Topic” Selection
2017 Liese Prokop Award
2016 ERC Starting Grant
2013 SWISS OphthAWARD
2012 HFSP Long-term Fellowship
