New York University · Microbiology & ImmunologyCerebral Malaria and Blood-Brain Barrier Unit
Ana Rodriguez · New York, New York
Research Focus
Dr. Ana Rodriguez's lab at NYU School of Medicine investigates how cerebral malaria disrupts the blood-brain barrier, which can lead to severe neurological symptoms and death. The lab focuses on understanding the role of the malaria parasite and its byproducts in this process, aiming to identify new potential treatments. Using cell models and animal studies, they are exploring molecular mechanisms that could help develop innovative therapies for this serious condition.
cerebral malariablood-brain barrierPlasmodium falciparumhemozoinfarnesyl transferase
Research Aims
5AIM 01Characterize the effect of natural hemozoin on brain endothelial barrier disruption.
AIM 02Identify bioactive molecules from Plasmodium falciparum that affect endothelial function.
AIM 03Validate the role of farnesyl transferase in barrier disruption in vitro and in mice.
AIM 04Perform a farnesylation screen to identify candidate substrates linked to barrier integrity.
AIM 05Define the involvement of RhoGTPases in cerebral malaria related endothelial changes.
Skills the Lab Values
cell culturein vitro model systemstranscriptomic analysismouse modelsprotein analysis techniques
Output against the department
Publications54bottom 13% of dept.420th of 486
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations812bottom 5% of dept.464th of 486
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.