University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · PsychologyFitting Lab
Sylvia Fitting · Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Research Focus
Dr. Sylvia Fitting's research lab at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill focuses on understanding how cannabis use affects cognitive function in individuals with HIV. The lab studies the oral microbiome, particularly certain bacteria, and their relationship with cognitive performance in both clinical patients and experimental mouse models. This work aims to uncover the potential therapeutic implications of cannabis for patients with HIV-related cognitive impairments.
HIVcannabisoral microbiomecognitionneurocognitive performanceneuroHIVActinomycesTHCCBDimmune system
Research Aims
4AIM 01Investigate the impact of cannabis use on the oral microbiome in HIV-infected individuals.
AIM 02Examine the link between specific bacteria in saliva and cognitive performance in HIV patients.
AIM 03Determine the effects of THC and CBD on cognitive function and neuropathology in mouse models of HIV.
AIM 04Explore the mechanisms by which oral microbiome bacteria influence neurocognitive pathways in HIV disease.
Skills the Lab Values
mouse modelsPCRcell culturebehavioral assayssaliva collectionmolecular signaling analysisbiostatisticsdata managementmicrobiome analysisimmunohistochemistry
Output against the department
Publications90bottom 22% of dept.229th of 296
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations2.3kbottom 23% of dept.229th of 296
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.