Although amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterised by progressive loss of motor neurons, emerging evidence has led to the identification of neuroinflammation and activated microglial pathology as universal features of ALS. To this end, Poulomi’s research interest is focussed on understanding the cellular and molecular basis of neuroinflammation in ALS. Through a combination of human-based model systems (e.g., patient stem cell-derived cultures, patient blood-derived macrophages and autopsy samples), Poulomi’s research seeks to better understand the nature and impact of dysregulated microglial pathways on motor neuron health in inherited forms of ALS.

In addition to ALS, Poulomi is currently exploring the impact of tau accumulation on microglial inflammation and synaptic dysfunction in the context of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), which is a pure form of  tauopathy.

Poulomi’s research also focuses on neuron-glia interactions in neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), the most common monogenic cause of autism and intellectual disability. In her work on FXS, she utilized patient- pluripotent stem cell derived microglia to uncover that microglial immune activation contributes to neuronal hyperexcitability, a key feature of the disorder. This manuscript is available on BioRxiv (Banerjee et al, biorxiv 2024).

These studies may highlight the pivotal role of neuroinflammation as a contributory mechanism in both neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders.