– Dr Michael Zulu
Pre-eclampsia remains a major cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity, yet the immunological mechanisms driving this complex disorder are still poorly understood. In this Q&A, Dr Michael Z. Zulu (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa) discusses how spatial omics technologies are enabling a deeper understanding of immune heterogeneity at the maternal-fetal interface, presented at the Centre of Excellence for Spatial Multi-Omics Research in Africa (CESORA) 2025 Symposium.
Drawing on training and support from CESORA, he reflects on his journey into spatial immunology, emerging discoveries in macrophage biology and pre-eclampsia, and the broader scientific advances showcased at the CESORA 2025 Symposium.
I hold a PhD in Clinical Science and Immunology from the University of Cape Town, and I am currently a lecturer and researcher in the Department of Virology, School of Pathology at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. Over the years, my work has focused on understanding immunity at the maternal–fetal interface in pregnancies complicated by maternal infections such as HIV and SARS-CoV-2, as well as non-communicable complications including pre-eclampsia, maternal pregravid obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus.
What initially drew me to the intersection of maternal health and spatial immunology was the realization that pregnancy represents a uniquely dynamic immunological state in which even subtle disruptions can have profound consequences for the mother and the developing fetus. Many of the conditions I study, such as metabolic dysfunction, chronic inflammation and altered innate immunity, are increasingly common globally, yet we still lack a detailed spatial understanding of how these factors shape the maternal-fetal immune interface.
Spatial profiling technologies such as GeoMx DSP now allow us to visualize where cells are located, how they communicate and which molecular programmes they activate spatially. This is particularly important in maternal health, where tissue architecture, placental villous tissue and decidual membranes during infection play central roles in immune tolerance and pathology.
Ultimately, I was motivated by the potential of spatial immunology to answer longstanding questions in maternal-fetal immunology and pathology: Why do some women experience severe immune-driven complications? How do metabolic and infectious stressors rewire immune microenvironments? And can spatial signatures help us predict or prevent adverse outcomes? This intersection allows me to bring together my training in immunology, macrophage biology and immunopathogenesis with cutting-edge spatial tools to address these challenges with both mechanistic depth and real-world public health impact.
CESORA’s support has been pivotal in my growth in the field of spatial omics. My first engagement with CESORA was receiving a full scholarship to attend the inaugural CESORA Spatial Omics Workshop in 2023, an intensive, hands-on programme offering both foundational theory and practical training in spatial biology technologies and analytical approaches. This experience not only strengthened my technical skills but also connected me to a vibrant community of African scientists pioneering spatial omics.
Building on this, CESORA then awarded me a competitive training grant that enabled a pilot study investigating macrophage heterogeneity at the maternal-fetal interface in pre-eclamptic versus normotensive pregnancies. This support allowed me to generate the first spatially resolved dataset on this topic, providing preliminary evidence of distinct immune microenvironments associated with this common and serious pregnancy complication.
The preliminary results from this pilot study were presented at the recent CESORA Spatial OMICS Symposium, offering a valuable opportunity to share my work, receive expert feedback, and refine the scientific direction of my research. Overall, CESORA’s support has strengthened my technical skills, and understanding of the field and accelerated my trajectory toward leadership in spatial omics for maternal-fetal health in Africa.
One particularly exciting aspect has been observing, even with an incomplete dataset, the remarkably beautiful and spatially resolved heterogeneity of macrophage populations in pre-eclamptic versus normotensive pregnancies. Seeing these differences emerge visually, how macrophage niches shift, cluster or alter their activation profiles, has been unexpected and scientifically energizing.
The spatial context is revealing a level of immune complexity that could fundamentally reshape how we detect and treat pre-eclampsia. Spatial mapping could support more precise diagnostics by identifying early spatial biomarkers of immune dysfunction, and ultimately guide targeted interventions that modulate specific macrophage niches rather than broadly suppressing inflammation.
I would advise early-career researchers entering the spatial omics field to remain open-minded and curious. The field is evolving rapidly, and no single platform answers every scientific question. No single platform answers every question, so being willing to learn different emerging technologies, whether spatial transcriptomics, proteomics, imaging mass cytometry, or multiplexed fluorescence approaches are all essential for tackling the complex biological problems we face today. Embrace continuous learning, seek out collaborative environments, and don’t hesitate to ask bold questions.
I believe that spatial omics rewards those who combine technical versatility with thoughtful biological insight (this observation was confirmed by the speakers at the recent CESORA Symposium 2025), and the field is full of opportunities for innovative, interdisciplinary contributions.
The CESORA Symposium was truly transformative. A major highlight was the exceptional line-up of international speakers whose publications I have followed closely and who have deeply influenced my scientific journey. It was incredibly inspiring to engage directly with world-renowned immunologists, hear them discuss their latest findings and witness the depth of expertise shaping the future of spatial biology.
Equally impactful was the opportunity to present my own research and receive constructive feedback from these leaders. Engaging with scientists I have long admired was both motivating and affirming for my career.
About the CESORA Symposium
Advances in Spatial Multi-Omics: Navigating Technological Hurdles to Accelerate Tissue Biology and Infectious Disease Research
The CESORA Symposium is a four-day scientific meeting hosted by the Africa Health Research Institute in Ballito, South Africa. The 2025 programme brought together international leaders in spatial biology, immunology, infectious diseases and bioengineering to advance the application of spatial multi-omics in tissue biology and global health. Sessions covered HIV persistence, HPV biology, tuberculosis, organoid systems, spatial data science and emerging spatial technologies, alongside showcases of CESORA-funded projects. The symposium provides African researchers with training, collaboration opportunities and exposure to cutting-edge spatial omics platforms.
This content has been developed independently by Touch Medical Media for touchINFECTIOUS DISEASES. Views expressed are the speaker’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Touch Medical Media.
Session: Zulu M. Investigating Macrophage Heterogeneity at the Maternal-Fetal Interface During Pre-eclampsia. CESORA 2025. CESORA Symposium. Ballito, South Africa, November 2 – 5, 2025.
Editor: Katey Gabrysch, Editorial Director.
Disclosures: This short article was prepared by touchINFECTIOUS DISEASES in collaboration with Michael Zulu. The content was developed and edited by human editors. No fees or funding were associated with its publication. touchINFECTIOUS DISEASES utilize AI as an editorial tool (ChatGPT (GPT-4o) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat). Michael Zulu has nothing to disclose in relation to this interview.
Cite: Michael Zulu. Mapping macrophage heterogeneity in pre-eclampsia. touchINFECTIOUS DISEASES. 20 November 2025.
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