The ASPIRE Path in Molecular Medicine

My research project involves understanding the increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among people living with HIV (PLWH). PLWH are twice as likely to develop CVD compared to people without HIV, likely driven by chronic systemic inflammation. However, the mechanisms underlying this association are unknown. Our lab has created a humanized mouse model by adoptively transferring immune cells from human donors into mice and assessing downstream endpoints relevant to human disease, including metabolic dysfunction and inflammation. This project is translational and aligns with the goals of APMM. Additionally, I will apply for a K99 fellowship utilizing a project that links my postdoctoral research with my long-term research goal by assessing the health of offspring born to mothers with HIV and/or cardiometabolic disease. Many non-communicable diseases result from the fetal environment in which an individual develops or from epigenetic changes inherited from previous generations. By creating experimental models that utilize human samples to replicate human findings, this project has the potential to yield results that are translatable and will positively impact clinical outcomes in the future. The development and execution of this project will greatly benefit from clinical knowledge and a clinical mentor, aligning closely with the goals of APMM.