My primary interest is to explore the earliest biochemical alterations occurring in the brain in different neurological disorders. Which type of early events triggers inflammatory responses leading to neuronal death and, ultimately, behavioral alterations such as memory loss and depression?
Despite the very different outcomes, conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, COVID-19, and HAND (HIV-Associated  Neurocognitive Disorder) share many mechanisms in common. The immune cells of the brain, microglia, sense minimal environmental alterations, shifting their protective state to an activated, inflammatory one, detrimental to neuronal health and their integrity.
To investigate these early alterations and how microglia and neuron interact, I have been combining high-resolution microscopy with imaging and fluid biomarkers investigation in different monkey models relevant to human health. Working at the California Primate Center, home to more than 4500 rhesus macaques, gave me the unique opportunity to work on many exciting projects. You can find more about them below.