EUEmory University · Biology
Gavegnano Neuropharmacology Lab
Christina Gavegnano · Atlanta, Georgia
Research Focus
Christina Gavegnano's lab at Emory University researches how to reduce HIV infection specifically within the central nervous system (CNS), which is a major barrier to curing the virus. By studying the drug baricitinib, the lab aims to see if it can effectively decrease HIV levels in the brain and improve the health of individuals living with HIV. The lab combines clinical studies with animal models to explore innovative treatments that might one day lead to a cure for HIV, improving the lives of those affected by the virus.
HIVcentral nervous systembaricitinibCNS reservoirHIV cure
Research Aims
4AIM 01Evaluate the safety and efficacy of baricitinib in reducing HIV levels in the CNS.
AIM 02Determine if baricitinib can decrease biomarkers of HIV persistence in cerebrospinal fluid.
AIM 03Examine the impact of baricitinib on neuropsychological outcomes for people with HIV.
AIM 04Assess the pharmacokinetics of baricitinib in the CNS.
Skills the Lab Values
cell cultureclinical trial designCerebrospinal Fluid analysisPCRWestern blotanimal modelsneuropsychological assessmentsquantitative assaysmagnetic resonance imaging
Output against the department
Publications47bottom 11% of dept.923rd of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations1.5kbottom 9% of dept.941st of 1,033
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.