Alexei Verkhratsky: From neuroglial pathophysiology to therapeutic strategies for brain disorders

Professor Alexei Verkhratsky revolutionizes our understanding of neuroglia through groundbreaking research that transforms how we view brain disorders and therapeutic possibilities. This illuminating Genomic Press Interview reveals the extraordinary journey of an internationally acclaimed neurophysiologist whose pioneering discoveries in neuroglial pathophysiology have fundamentally reshaped neuroscience. Born in Ukraine and now at the University of Manchester, Verkhratsky stands as a towering figure with over 600 publications, including landmark articles on glial ionic excitability, astroglial sodium signalling, and pathophysiology of neuroglia that fundamentally changed our understanding of brain function in health and disease. His election to prestigious academies, including the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Academia Europaea, and multiple European academies, underscores his profound scientific impact. Verkhratsky's revolutionary work discovered that while neurons communicate through electrical impulses, glial cells possess specific form of intracellular excitability mediated by dynamic changes in ions and second messengers, demonstrating that glia actively participate in brain information processing through neurotransmitter receptors and calcium waves rather than being passive support cells. This paradigm-shifting concept of glial calcium excitability revealed an entirely new dimension of brain communication. His groundbreaking research on neuroglial ionic signalling, including sodium and chloride mechanisms, provides crucial insights for developing therapeutic strategies. As Professor of Neurophysiology in Manchester and through distinguished professorships worldwide, he champions the view that neuroglial malfunction drives brain disorders including neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. His comprehensive 730-page reference book on neuroglia, published in 2023 with Arthur Butt, represents the culmination of decades of transformative research. Through extensive international collaborations and mentorship, Verkhratsky continues advancing neurogliopathology, offering hope for treating depression, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and other devastating brain disorders by targeting neuroglial homeostatic support and neuroprotection mechanisms.