Research in our laboratory focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate neuronal survival and differentiation and the events underlying HIV neuropathology, particularly in the context of drug abuse. We are interested in the roles of chemokines in the CNS and the interaction of chemokine receptors with other major neurotransmitter or neuropeptide receptor systems, such as glutamate and opioid receptors. The long-term goal of our research is to characterize both neuroprotective and deleterious actions of chemokines in the brain and identify therapeutic strategies for treatment of neuroAIDS and other neurological disorders caused by alterations of neuroimmune regulatory mechanisms. Read More