Lab Members

Dionna W. Williams, PhD

Associate Professor and Principal Investigator

dwwill4@emory.edu

A first-generation college student, Dr. Williams (she/they) graduated Cum Laude from Hofstra University, attended the Albert Einstein College of Medicine for their graduate studies, and pursued a postdoctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins University.

Stephen Knerler, BSc

Lead Research Specialist and Lab Manager

stephen.anthony.knerler.jr@emory.edu

Stephen has his hands in a variety of research projects in the lab. His most focused ones involve looking at the interactions of brain cells in vitro when exposed to drugs of abuse and HIV.

Labib Mamun, BSc

Research Specialist

labib.ahmed.mamun@emory.edu

Labib is interested broadly in the mechanistic behavior of neuroinflammation in the CNS, with a particular focus on the interaction of extended family endocannabinoid receptors and HIV infection of the brain. They are also interested in mechanisms involved in the permeability of the blood brain barrier.

Cory White, PhD

cory.j.white@emory.edu

Neurovirulent viral infections, such as human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV), result in a unique metabolic strain on the brain which contributes to the elevated indices of neurologic impairment observed in people living with HIV (PLWH).

Jose "Javier" Rosado-Franco, PhD

jose.javier.rosado-franco@emory.edu

Dr. Rosado-Franco's primary research project focuses on elucidating the possible anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects of Cannabidiol (CBD) in an HIV monkey model using Rhesus macaques. Furthermore, he is interested in determining the changes in microbiota caused by CBD in these animals.

Alysha Ellison, BSc, MSc

PhD Student, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology Program at Johns Hopkins University

alysha.ellison@emory.edu

Alysha's research is at the intersection of HIV, immunology, the brain, and drugs of abuse, with an overarching question asking whether anti-inflammatory compounds, like cannabidiol, can be used to reduce HIV-associated neuroinflammation and improve neurologic impairment.

Rodnie Colón Ortiz, BSc

PhD Student, Neuroscience Training Program at Johns Hopkins University

rodnie.colon.ortiz@emory.edu

Rodnie's doctoral studies in the Williams lab focus on immune cell trafficking across the blood brain barrier (BBB) during HIV infection, which contributes to chronic neuroinflammation and adverse neurologic outcomes in people with HIV.

Hannah Wilkins, BSc

PhD Student, Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology Program at Johns Hopkins University

hwilkin4@jhmi.edu

Hannah is studying HIV antiretroviral drug disposition, metabolism, and transport in the brain, colon, and at the blood brain barrier using a variety of mass spectrometry techniques and cell-based assays.

Kiara Mehta

BSc Student, Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology at Emory University

kiara.mehta@emory.edu

Kiara's project involves looking at inter-individual differences on the impact of cocaine in macrophages. Her goal is to understand why different people vary in terms of CYP3A4, which contributes to antiretroviral therapy and cocaine metabolism.