The intricate interplay between the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems is a cutting-edge area of biomedical research. Understanding these interactions is essential for deciphering the body’s integrated response to stress, infections, and disease, as well as for developing innovative therapeutic approaches. Our primary investigative objectives include:

1. Neural regulation of immunity: We aim to explore how the nervous system influences immune responses. This involves studying neuropeptides and neurotransmitters that modulate immune cell activity.

2. Immune modulation of neurophysiology: We seek to understand how immune system signals, such as cytokines, impact brain function and behavior. For example, systemic infection can lead to neuroinflammatory responses that affect normal behavior.

3. Endocrine influence on neural and immune Systems: We examine the role of hormones in regulating both neural and immune functions, considering their impact on homeostasis and disease states

About Me

Email

marko.sestan@uniri.hr

I am an associate professor at the University of Rijeka, Department of Histology and Embryology. Throughout my career, I have dedicated myself to understanding how immune cells interact with their environment, both in health and disease. During my PhD, I made a significant contribution to unraveling the role of the immune system in the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus following viral infections. After completing my PhD in 2018, I relocated to Lisbon, Portugal, where I worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the Veiga-Fernandes group. There, my focus was on investigating neuro-immune circuits that regulate metabolic homeostasis. In 2023, I established my own research group, which explores the complex interactions between the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems in viral infections and metabolic diseases.