We have used integrative genomics to investigate the role of microglia in preterm brain development, employing a clinically relevant mouse model of interleukin-1β (IL1B)-induced systemic inflammation that recapitulates the essential features of the encephalopathy of prematurity14, integrating microglial-specific data from this model with ex vivo and in vitro experiments, analysis of human microglia and imaging-genomic data from preterm infants. The gene discussed is IL1B; the disease is Encephalopathy.