George Washington University · Microbiology & ImmunologyHIV Neurobiology and Therapeutics Lab
Michael Ilya Bukrinsky · Washington, District of Columbia
Research Focus
Dr. Michael Bukrinsky's lab focuses on understanding how HIV infection affects the brain, particularly in relation to neurological disorders that arise despite effective anti-retroviral treatments. They are investigating the role of a protein called Nef in disrupting cholesterol metabolism in neurons, which may contribute to cognitive impairments experienced by individuals living with HIV. The ultimate goal is to identify potential therapeutic strategies to mitigate these neurological issues and enhance the quality of life for affected patients.
HIVCNS disordersneurological dysfunctioncholesterol metabolismNef proteinneuroinflammationneurodegenerationlipid raftsneurocognitive disordertherapeutic targets
Research Aims
3AIM 01Establish the contribution of Nef to HIV-associated CNS neurological dysfunction in mouse models.
AIM 02Determine mechanisms by which Nef affects cholesterol metabolism in neurons causing neurological dysfunction.
AIM 03Target lipid rafts as a potential therapeutic approach to treat HIV-associated neurological dysfunction.
Skills the Lab Values
mouse modelscell cultureWestern blotPCRimmunofluorescencelipid profilingexosome isolationcholesterol assaysRNA sequencingbehavioral testing
Output against the department
Publications251top 22% of dept.108th of 486
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations13ktop 29% of dept.142nd 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.