The brain was once thought to be “immune-privileged,” largely isolated from the body’s immune system. We now know this isn’t true — the brain has its own resident immune system, and both systems are in constant dialogue, shaping each other’s function in both health and disease. 

This raises important questions: How do immune signals in the body, like chronic inflammation or infection, influence brain structure and function? And how do the brain’s resident immune cells, microglia, communicate with the body? Could mapping these interactions give us a clearer understanding of this two-way communication — and, ultimately, transform how we diagnose and treat neurological and psychiatric conditions? 

These are the driving questions behind the work of Dr Sinead King, Assistant Professor and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow. Supported by the FutureNeuro and Insight Research Ireland Centres, her NeuroInsight fellowship project is focused on uncovering the intricate interplay between immune activity and brain function across a range of neuropsychiatric conditions. 

“Instead of focusing on a single diagnosis, I’m examining neuroimmune interactions across multiple conditions,” explains Dr King. “We’re integrating large-scale data—proteomics and fMRI functional connectivity – using advanced AI models and data analytics to build a more complete picture of how immune signals orchestrate brain network function, and, crucially, to pinpoint novel treatment targets.” 

Her approach reflects a growing movement in neuroscience that uses advanced analytics to move towards more personalised, effective understanding of illness. 

Understanding Illness Through a Transdiagnostic Lens 

Dr King’s interest in neuroimmunology began during her MSc in Clinical Neuroscience at King’s College London, while learning about microglia—the brain’s resident immune cells. 

“I became fascinated by common underlying biological dysregulations across seemingly distinct conditions… namely the glutamatergic–inflammatory pathway,” she says. That pathway became the focus of her PhD under Professor Allan Young, at King’s College London. 

Her NeuroInsight project takes a transdiagnostic approach—using large datasets to investigate patterns that may be shared across different neurological and psychiatric illnesses. 

“What I find truly groundbreaking are the emerging patterns we’re detecting,” she says. “We’re beginning to see consistent associations between certain immune markers that are associated with changes in brain functional connectivity—especially in key networks like the Default Mode Network.” 

These early findings suggest that groups of patients—who might have different diagnoses— may actually share similar immune profiles and brain network patterns. Understanding these overlaps could help match patients to the most effective treatments and inspire entirely new approaches to understanding disease. 

Collaboration Across Centres and Disciplines 

Dr King’s fellowship spans two Research Ireland centres—FutureNeuro and the Insight Centre for Data Analytics—and is designed to bring neuroscience and data science together in new ways. 

“I’ve formed long-term collaborations with clinicians and AI experts working across areas like epilepsy, neurodegeneration, and neurodevelopmental disorders,” she says. “These partnerships are essential for developing new paradigms in medicine and novel treatments.” 

The cross-centre model is at the heart of the NeuroInsight programme, which supports researchers to work across both data analytics and brain research while fostering interdisciplinary teamwork. 

Training the Next Generation 

Recognising the growing need for skills at the intersection of neuroscience and data science, Dr King developed a course titled Advanced Neuroimmunology and Data Analytics. The course is designed to equip clinicians, psychologists, and data scientists with both up-to-date knowledge in neuroimmunology and practical tools for working with large, complex datasets. 

“Many professionals lack either the data analysis skills or the latest understanding of neuroimmune mechanisms,” she explains. “This course bridges that gap and introduces a new way of thinking about illness—moving beyond symptoms to underlying biology and causal mechanisms.” 

Participants gain basic coding skills, engage with current research from global leaders in neuroimmunology, and explore how data-driven insights can inform clinical practice. 

Future Directions 

Looking ahead, Dr King sees real potential for data analytics to support more personalised and precise approaches to diagnosis and treatment. 

“Imagine a future where diagnostic categories are no longer as helpful and useful for understanding and treating illness – where instead a patient’s blood sample is analysed for specific inflammatory or protein markers by an AI-driven system,” she says. “This could offer tailored insights into the neuroimmune mechanisms driving their symptoms—and inform earlier or more targeted intervention.” 

While this vision is still evolving, her research is helping lay the foundation for a new way of understanding disease—one that moves beyond broad diagnostic labels toward a precise, functional view of illness. 

“It’s ultimately about delivering more personalised, effective care.” 

Interested in the Advanced Neuroimmunology and Data Analytics course? Click here to register your interest.