University of Miami · Microbiology & ImmunologyKaposi's Sarcoma Research Unit
Noula Dattu Shembade · Coral Gables, Florida
Research Focus
Dr. Shembade's lab at the University of Miami focuses on understanding Kaposi's sarcoma, a cancer associated with HIV/AIDS, and the complex interactions between HIV and the Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV). The lab develops innovative mouse and cell models that mimic disease conditions, allowing for the testing of new therapeutic strategies aimed at improving treatment for affected populations. By conducting research in these models, the lab aims to unravel the mechanisms of viral oncogenesis and to advance the development of immunological therapies against this malignancy.
HIVKaposi's sarcomaKSHVstem cellsanimal modelsimmunotherapycancer biologytumorigenesis
Research Aims
3AIM 01Develop in vitro models of KSHV-induced tumorigenesis using mesenchymal stem cells.
AIM 02Investigate the role of HIV in promoting KSHV-associated cancer using mouse models.
AIM 03Test novel immunotherapies in immunocompetent mouse models of AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma.
Skills the Lab Values
cell culturemouse modelsimmunotherapy techniquesviral infection assaystumor xenograft modelsflow cytometryPCRimmunofluorescencemolecular cloning
Output against the department
Publications30bottom 5% of dept.462nd of 486
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations2.2kbottom 14% of dept.418th 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.