Research

Our faculty performs cutting-edge clinical, translational, and basic science research in the pathogenesis and treatment of infectious diseases, including HIV, CNS viral infections, hepatitis C virus, respiratory tract infections, and gram-negative bacterial infections. 

Basic Science Research Highlights

Gumbo Lab

• Pharmacology of antituberculosis and other antimycobacterial agents
• Shortening antituberculosis and anti-MAC therapy Clinical Trial simulations using
• Monte Carlo methods Antimicrobial pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamics and pharmacogenetics
• Application of pharmacogenetic based dosing to Global Health Problems

Levine Lab

• Autophagy and infection
• Autophagy and cancer biology
• Autophagy and cell death regulation

Southern Lab

Defining the prevalence of infection due to Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas Disease) in the human population of the Toledo District of Belize.

Varley Lab

Gene therapy for inflammatory diseases Serum Paraoxonase as treatment/prohylaxis for organophosphate poisoning.

Clinical Research Highlights

Bedimo Lab

• Novel therapies for patients with drug-resistant HIV
• Studies of lipid risk factors, prevention and management of hyslipidemia, lipodystrophy and bone mineral loss among HIV-infected patients
• Studies of simplified combination therapy and novel immune-based therapy
• Laboratory-based research to understand the mechanisms of dyslipidemia among HIV and HIV/HCV co-infected patients

Jain Lab

Viral Kinetics: Examining the change in HCV viral load after pegylated interferon and ribavirin initiation.

HIV/HCV Observational Study: Following HIV/HCV co-infected patients over time to examine outcomes such as mortality and development of end-stage liver disease.