Marcus Semtner

Prof. Dr. Marcus Semtner is a Visiting Professor at the Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy at Freie Universität Berlin, affiliated with the Institute of Biology and the Max Delbrück Center. His research focuses on neuroimmunology and the physiology of microglia, particularly their role in synaptic activity regulation, G protein-coupled receptor signaling, and interactions with neurons/astrocytes. He leads studies using advanced mouse models, such as GCaMP6m-expressing microglia, to dissect neuron-microglia communication in living brain tissues.

Education details are not explicitly stated in the text, but his academic career includes collaborative research across institutions like the Max Delbrück Center. His work bridges immunology, neuroscience, and cell biology, with a focus on microglial dysfunction in neurodegenerative and genetic disorders like neurofibromatosis type 1 and autism spectrum disorder models.

Research highlights include discoveries on microglial sensing of GABA and histamine signals, sex-specific microglial states, and the role of VGF-derived peptides in purinergic signaling. He co-developed novel techniques for in situ analysis of microglia, including Patch-seq and live imaging approaches.

Teaching activities include leading the 'Neuroimmunology and Physiology of Microglia' course, emphasizing hands-on research integration. Collaborations with institutions like the Charité Berlin and international teams (e.g., with Dr. Dieter H. Gutmann in St. Louis) are central to his work.