Mariana Gerschenson

Mariana Gerschenson, Ph.D., is a Professor and Associate Dean for Research at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii. She leads the Diabetes Research Center and directs the NIH-funded COBRE-Diabetes initiative (2P20GM113134). Her research focuses on cardiovascular and metabolic complications in HIV patients, particularly mitochondrial dysfunction caused by antiretroviral therapies. She also investigates longitudinal cardiac health in perinatally HIV-exposed youth and epigenetic mechanisms linking inflammation to cardiovascular outcomes.

Her research integrates translational studies in non-human primates and human cohorts, with a focus on HIV-associated cardiometabolic risks. Key projects include studying mitochondrial abnormalities in pediatric HIV patients and developing biomarkers for early detection of subclinical cardiac disease. She collaborates on global initiatives like the Tshilo Dikotla Study in Botswana and leads NIH grants such as R01 HL137558 and 5R21AI170252.

Dr. Gerschenson holds leadership roles in research administration and has pioneered mitochondrial biology research in HIV contexts. Her work bridges basic science and clinical applications, informing public health strategies to improve long-term cardiovascular outcomes in HIV populations.