Tau proteins have a vital role in axonal transport within neurons as they stabilise structures called microtubules. These microtubules are vital in supporting the neuron, and when tau proteins are broken down to form truncated tau protein, neuron dysfunction occurs. Recently it has been shown that immune cells of the nervous system (microglia and mast cells) are thought to play a role in the breakdown of tau protein to form truncated tau. Recently preliminary research in Dr. Boland’s lab suggested truncated tau appears before neurofibrillary tangle formation which when formed correspond to an onset of neurodegeneration. These microglia and mast cells were found to be activated via various stress inducing factors such as zinc and glutamate, and when activated, released enzymes (proteases) that increase the production of truncated tau. The consequent formation of truncated tau is thought to be a major cause of neurodegeneration. Therefore in my research project I aim to investigate the role of immune cell activation in truncated tau formation and whether this process plays a major role in neurodegeneration. If this process plays a major role, it could then be exploited therapeutically in order to improve the prognosis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.