FutureNeuro Investigator Dr Michael John Dolan has been selected as a member of the 2026 cohort of FENS-Kavli Scholars, joining a prestigious European network that recognises outstanding early-career neuroscience researchers. 

Dr Dolan, Assistant Professor in the Department of Genetics at Trinity College Dublin, is one of 15 researchers from 12 European countries selected for the 2026 cohort of the FENS-Kavli Network of Excellence (FKNE). Established by the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) and The Kavli Foundation, the network brings together exceptional scientists recognised for their scientific excellence, originality, and emerging leadership in neuroscience. 

Understanding the brain’s immune system 

Dr Dolan’s research within FutureNeuro investigates how the brain’s immune system contributes to health, disease, and repair, with a particular focus on microglia, the brain’s resident immune cells. 

Once thought to be a relatively uniform population, microglia are now known to exist in a range of states that emerge as the brain develops and change in response to injury, ageing, and neurodegenerative disease. Despite significant advances in our understanding, important questions remain about how these states arise, what maintains them, and the roles they play in supporting—or sometimes disrupting—brain health. 

Dr Dolan’s lab is working to answer these questions by uncovering the “rules” or principles that govern how microglia behave and adapt. The team combines laboratory and animal model systems with advanced technologies that enable analysis of individual cells and their location within brain tissue. Using molecular tools to selectively alter genes and pathways, they also investigate how microglia respond under different conditions. 

Together, these approaches are helping the team move beyond cataloguing microglial states to building a clearer understanding of how they develop, interact with the brain, and contribute to both damage and repair. Ultimately, this research aims to identify ways of influencing these cells to improve outcomes in neurological disease. 

Commenting on the announcement, Dr Dolan said: 

“Being selected as a 2026 FENS-Kavli Scholar is a tremendous honour. It provides an opportunity to engage with an exceptional community of neuroscientists at a pivotal stage in my career, and to share ideas across disciplines that are increasingly essential for understanding the complexity of brain-immune interactions.” 

Supporting the next generation of neuroscience leaders 

The FENS-Kavli Network of Excellence was established in 2014 to support outstanding early-career neuroscientists across Europe and foster scientific exchange, collaboration, and leadership. The self-organised network also contributes to neuroscience policy, outreach, and initiatives that strengthen research communities across the continent. 

Welcoming the new cohort, FENS President Prof Ole Kiehn, said: 

“The shared commitment of the FKNE scholars is an immense source of inspiration and resonates strongly with FENS’ ambition to have a strong impact on both science and society. On behalf of the FENS leadership, I congratulate the new scholars. Your presence will contribute to the continued growth and diversity of the network and to the neuroscience community of FENS.” 

Dr Dolan’s selection reflects growing international recognition of his research and highlights the strength of neuroscience research in Ireland. His work aligns closely with FutureNeuro’s mission to accelerate discoveries that improve the lives of people living with brain conditions by translating fundamental scientific insights into advances in brain health. 

Congratulations to Dr Dolan on this well-deserved recognition.