Kristen Funk

Dr. Kristen Funk is an Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, focusing on neuroinflammation and its role in neurodegenerative and neuroinfectious diseases. Her research explores how viral pathogens and aging influence neurodegenerative processes, particularly Alzheimer's disease. She investigates T cell immunity, microglial responses, and molecular mechanisms underlying neuroinflammation.

Her work bridges virology, immunology, and neuroscience, with studies on CD8+ T cell dysfunction in aged brains, viral CNS invasion, and tau protein pathogenesis. Key contributions include identifying how antigen non-specific CD8+ T cells accelerate cognitive decline in aged mice after coronavirus infection and elucidating antibody-mediated tau fibril uptake in microglia.

Dr. Funk's lab focuses on neurotropic viral infections in aging CNS and Alzheimer's disease, with recent studies exploring SARS-CoV-2's long-term neurological impacts. Her publications highlight the interplay between viral infections, immune responses, and neurodegeneration, offering insights into therapeutic strategies targeting T cells and neuroinflammatory pathways.

No scientific awards or formal advisees are listed in the provided texts. Her research emphasizes translational applications, linking fundamental discoveries to potential treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.