Respiratory infections and systemic inflammation can trigger a range of conditions marked by the disruption of immuno-neuronal processes—conditions which, in severe cases, may lead to brain damage and acute changes in social behavior. Although infections and inflammation are increasingly recognized as significant contributors to neurological disorders and impairments in mental health, the underlying mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. The newly funded Research Training Group, titled “Neuropsychiatric Sequelae of Infectious Diseases – NEURINFECT,” seeks to address this gap. Beginning in April 2026, the DFG will support the program for five years. The spokespersons for the initiative are DZPG researchers Professor Nils Opel of Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Professor Christian Geis of Jena University Hospital.
