University of Miami · BiochemistryHIV and Brain Health Research Lab
Michal Toborek · Coral Gables, Florida
Research Focus
Dr. Michal Toborek's lab at the University of Miami School of Medicine studies how HIV infection and substance use, particularly methamphetamine, affect brain health and contribute to disorders such as depression. They focus on understanding the interactions between HIV and brain cells, especially in how these conditions interfere with the blood-brain barrier and influence the gut-brain connection. Through their research, they aim to uncover mechanisms that could lead to new treatments for individuals affected by HIV, especially as they age.
HIVmethamphetaminebrain pericytesdepressiongut-brain axis
Research Aims
3AIM 01Investigate how methamphetamine affects HIV infection in brain cells.
AIM 02Study the role of the inflammasome in HIV-related depression.
AIM 03Examine the relationship between HIV infection, amyloid beta, and cerebrovascular diseases.
Skills the Lab Values
cell cultureanimal modelsimmunohistochemistryWestern blotRNA sequencing
Output against the department
Publications407top 12% of dept.49th of 402
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations14ktop 35% of dept.140th of 402
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.