Elena Irollo, PhD
Research Assistant Professor
E-mail: ei63@drexel.edu

Elena is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology. She earned PharmaD and SpD in pharmacy degrees from the University of Naples Federico II in 2009 and 2014, followed by a PhD from the University of Erlangen, Germany in 2018.

Elena has a major interest in opioid and HIV regulation of CXCL12/CXCR4 chemokine signaling axis and neurotransmission in cortical neurons. She is currently studying a novel iron-dependent signaling pathway downstream of mu-opioid receptors that inhibits CXCR4 signaling and reduces cortical dendritic spine density. She is also interested in the effect of chemokines and other immune mediators in brain tumor formation and progression.

Outside the lab, Elena serves the Drexel postdoctoral community as chair of the Career & Professional Development Committee.