A/Prof. Alessandro Castorina is an Associate Professor and the Head of the Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience (LCMN) at the School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney. For over 15 years he has investigated the contribution of neuroinflammation to the genesis and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. During this time, he has successfully characterised the role of resident glia in the establishment of a chronic neuroinflammatory environment, with particular emphasis on its detrimental effects on glial-neuronal crosstalk. He is currently supported by a number of philanthropic bodies (MS Australia, Rebecca Cooper Foundation, Brain Australia) to investigate the mechanisms underlying multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis, in search for a cure. Dr. Castorina is also active in MS awareness campaigns and fund raising and over the years has participated to several community initiatives, including the “Red Coat Battle of the Labs” and the May 50K fund raiser for 3 years in a row.