Using Cx3cr1CreERT2:R26-yfp,Tgfbr2fl/fl mice, we have clearly demonstrated an inducible microglia-specific deletion of Tgfbr2 and the fact that mutant mice do not show impaired survival and microglia maintenance offers the opportunity to study microglial TGFβ signalling in a variety of neurodegenerative disease models. Here, TGFBR2 is linked to neurodegenerative disease.