CA25102 - European network for advancing nervous system health through glia integration and innovation (EU-GLIA)

Glial cells are fundamental regulators of nervous system function. They orchestrate homeostasis, communication, metabolism, immunity, and repair processes that are essential for sensory transmission, motor function, cognition, behaviour, and healthy ageing. However, despite their critical roles, glial cells remain underrepresented in neuroscience research, and efforts across Europe to research glial cells are fragmented. The EU-GLIA COST Action is the first pan-European network focused on cellular interactions of glial cells within the nervous system. It brings together scientists, clinicians, industry, policymakers, and patient advocacy groups to overcome disciplinary silos and thereby accelerate translation. In six cross-linked Working Groups, EU-GLIA will (1) interconnect basic, translational, and computational research, (2) standardise experimental approaches, and (3) develop a shared FAIR- and 3R-compliant data platform. The Action will actively promote Young Researchers and Innovators, and strengthen inclusiveness through training, mobility, and mentoring initiatives. By positioning glial science at the heart of neuroscience, EU-GLIA will drive coordinated discovery, de-risk therapeutic pipelines and inform nervous system health policy. This coordinated effort is timely and essential to ensure that Europe leads in defining the role of glial cells in health and disease.