Biju Bhargavan

Biju Bhargavan, PhD, is an Instructor in the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), affiliated with the College of Medicine. His research focuses on molecular mechanisms of HIV-1-induced blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and epigenetic regulation in neuroAIDS pathogenesis.

• PhD in Pharmacology, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India (2009)

Research Interests: Dr. Bhargavan investigates how HIV-1 subtypes differentially affect BBB integrity through viral proteins, adhesion molecules, cytokines, and chemokine receptors. His work explores TLR signaling, epigenetic modifications (e.g., DNA methylation, histone acetylation), and nanomedicine-based drug delivery systems for CNS targeting.

Scientific Contributions: He holds multiple international patents for pharmaceutical compositions targeting bone disorders using Butea isoflavones. His publications reveal key insights into:

• HIV-1 Tat protein interactions with TLR4/6 in neuroinflammation
• Epigenetic regulation of LEDGF in aging and oxidative stress
• TLR3-mediated IL-6 expression via JNK/TAK1 pathways
• SARS-CoV-2 spike protein effects on endothelial injury and coagulation

Methodologies: Utilizes in vitro BBB models, humanized mice, and molecular signaling analyses to study viral neuropathogenesis and develop antiretroviral nanotherapeutics.