Mechanisms of HIV brain disease
We study the origin and control of HIV neuropathogenesis at the cognitive, tissue, cellular, molecular, epigenetic, and systems biology levels using autopsy specimens from HIV-infected people and mice experimentally infected by a chimeric HIV.

Role of opiates in HIV brain disease
We study the contribution of chronic morphine use to the pathogenesis and severity of cognitive dysfunction in HIV infected mice at the cognitive, tissue, cellular, molecular, epigenetic level, and conduct preclinical intervention research in mice with pharmaceuticals acting at the epigenetic control of memory.

Treatment of HIV cognitive dysfunction with intranasal insulin
We are conducting preclinical efficacy and pharmacological evaluation of intranasally administered insulin in HIV infected mice as treatment for cognitive dysfunction, in preparation for clinical trial in HIV infected patients.