Completing Glial Cell Biology: A Historical perspective

Abstract
The history of glial cells is neglected in comparison to that of neurons, and this holds true a
decade after the first grant application. We can debate about the possible reasons, including the
fact that glial cells remain on the fringe of neuroscience, likely because they do not carry nerve
impulse and cannot be compared to computers and Artificial Intelligence. A way to enhance the
second-class citizen status of glial cells is writing their history. We are currently completing a
humanities history book encompassing all glial cell types in the body. We aim for an historical
narrative including interactions of glial cells with neurons limited to 5 years ago to avoid scientific
artefacts. A decade and several thousands computer files later, the book manuscript merely feels
like the tip of an iceberg, despite being a significant dent in the historical treasures waiting to be
discovered and translated. The sheer amount of newly discovered material on glia is mind-
boggling. This application requests funds to complete a thorough historical account from glia
perspective, organized at the cellular level and presenting an up-to-date landscape of all glial cell
type interactions with neurons. The book entices writing significant new material for both PI and
contributors since no glia history book exists. Twenty two contributors and the PI spent a
considerable amount of time to write and research their chapter, often in vast excess of words
and references because writing from scratch. The editors successfully negotiated with publisher
Wiley a word count increase from 160k to 200k. The current challenge is to finish writing and
comply with this word limitation. Practically, a history book will guide scientific readership through
the recent explosion of literature that is challenging to capture the whole picture of glia role in the
nervous system. A widely acknowledged consensus among scientific historians is that an
historical perspective on how our understanding of the nervous system has advanced will lead to
new insights on how further advances can be made. No neurological diseases can be understood
without an integrated concept of the complexity of glial cells within neuronal networks.

Grant Number: 1G13LM014184-01A1
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: Anne Boullerne