World View in 2024

In acknowledgment of Women’s History Month, I have drawn upon timeless concepts from Jane Jacobs’ seminal 1961 book The Death and Life of Great American Cities¹ to describe emerging ideas in neuroimmunology and how we may collectively move the field forward.

Breakdown barriers that make you hesitate from challenging yourself, and jump into new fields that interest you.

Reflecting on the decision to become a neuroimmunologist, and the women mentors who taught me how to challenge dogma in all its forms.

Entering a new scientific field is difficult and daunting. Here I relate my personal journey as a fish immunologist and how neuroimmunologists welcomed me with open arms (and brains), giving me the sense of belonging that we all need as scientists.

Since the discoveries of autoantibodies in neurological diseases, women have had a fascinating journey in neuroimmunology. At a time when groundbreaking advances are being made, let’s continue the conversation about women in science.