Angela Martin Amedee

Angela Martin Amedee, PhD, serves as Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Parasitology and Dean of the School of Graduate Studies at LSU Health New Orleans. With a career spanning over three decades, she has established herself as a leading researcher in HIV/SIV pathogenesis with particular expertise in transmission mechanisms and the intersection of substance use with viral disease progression.

• Bachelor of Science in Microbiology (1986), Nicholls State University
• MS in Microbiology (1989), Louisiana State University School of Medicine
• PhD in Microbiology (1992), Louisiana State University School of Medicine

Dr. Amedee's research program investigates the pathogenesis of HIV with specific focus on viral and host factors responsible for transmission. Her laboratory has made significant contributions to understanding mother-to-infant transmission of HIV, the establishment and maintenance of viral reservoirs in women, and the effects of alcohol consumption and drug abuse on HIV transmission and pathogenesis. She employs non-human primate models, particularly rhesus macaques infected with SIV, to study these complex interactions in vivo.

Analysis of Dr. Amedee's recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on the intersection of substance use (particularly alcohol) with HIV disease progression. Her work spans multiple systems including neurological complications, metabolic disturbances, immune dysregulation, and co-infections. The research demonstrates increasing sophistication in examining how alcohol affects specific molecular pathways, brain regions, and immune cell populations in the context of HIV infection.

Dr. Amedee has actively mentored graduate students in the LSUHSC Microbiology PhD program, with at least one notable graduate (Jenna Rychert, PhD) achieving certification from the American Board of Medical Microbiology. Her laboratory maintains strong collaborative relationships with the LSUHSC Alcohol and Drug Abuse Center of Excellence and other faculty across multiple departments.

As Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, Dr. Amedee plays a significant role in shaping graduate education across all health sciences disciplines at LSU Health New Orleans, demonstrating leadership that extends beyond her research program into academic administration.