University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus · BiologyHIV Metabolism and Immunity Lab
Ivona Vasile Pandrea · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Research Focus
Dr. Ivona Vasile Pandrea's lab at the University of Pittsburgh focuses on understanding the impact of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on HIV/SIV infection and its relationship with metabolic disorders. The lab explores how factors like inflammation in adipose tissue and adenosine signaling pathways contribute to disease progression in people living with HIV. Their research aims to develop therapeutic strategies that can improve immune function and reduce comorbidities associated with ART-induced weight gain and inflammation.
HIVSIVantiretroviral therapymetabolic diseaseinflammationadipose tissueadenosinenonhuman primatesimmune responsetherapeutic strategies
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate how ART affects immune cell function in adipose tissue.
AIM 02Evaluate the role of adenosine in regulating gut inflammation during SIV infection.
AIM 03Assess the effects of GLP-1 agonist on adipose tissue inflammation and metabolism.
AIM 04Examine the size and characteristics of the viral reservoir in adipose tissue.
AIM 05Determine the impact of metabolic changes on overall health and immune function in HIV/SIV models.
Skills the Lab Values
animal modelscellular assaysimmunology techniquesinflammation measurementmetabolic profilinglipidomicsflow cytometryPCRtissue culturebiostatistics
Output against the department
Publications160top 42% of dept.432nd of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations8.4ktop 46% of dept.472nd 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.