Brinda Emu, MD

Individuals with HIV, even after effective control of HIV replication, remain at higher risk for some non-AIDS related clinical conditions, including cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, and certain malignancies. Our research focuses on understanding those aspects of the immune system that remain impaired despite effective treatment of HIV infection. In addition, we hope to elucidate mechanisms of persistent immunologic aberrancies are associated with clinical disease, including the role of dysregulation of immunometabolism in the setting of HIV infection.

Our laboratory is specifically focused on understanding the pathogenesis, incidence, presentation, and prognosis of cancers in the setting of HIV infection. Individuals with HIV remain at risk for particular malignancies, despite effective control of HIV replication. We will be studying biomarkers that will allow for early diagnosis of patients at increased risk, as well as focusing on the pathologic, molecular, and genetic differences of these cancers in HIV infected individuals compared to individuals without HIV infection, including studies of the tumor microenvironment.

Specialized Terms: HIV and aging; Immune dysfunction in setting of HIV infection

• Evaluation of different T cell phenotypes/function across different ages of HIV-infected indivdiuals on antiretroviral therapy, compared with HIV-uninfected individuals
• Impact of T cell aberrancies on incidence of cancer in the setting of chronic viral infection
• Evaluating immunologic parameters of individuals with cancer diagnoses in setting of HIV infection