Nametso Kelentse

Nametso Kelentse is a Postdoctoral Associate at the Yale School of Medicine in the Department of Neurology and member of the Spudich Lab. She holds a PhD in Medical Sciences (2022) and a BSc in Biology and Chemistry (2015) from the University of Botswana.

Her research focuses on HIV-1 evolutionary dynamics in the central nervous system (CNS), particularly mechanisms of HIV pathogenesis in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood during early untreated infection. She investigates viral compartmentalization, drug resistance mutations, and neurocognitive outcomes in HIV patients, with a geographic emphasis on Botswana.

Recent publications highlight her work on rationalizing long-acting antiretroviral therapy, CSF-plasma mutation concordance, and HIV-1C genetic variation. Collaborative studies span virology, neurology, and global health.

Scientific awards include the Trials of Excellence in Southern Africa (TESA) II and III PhD Fellowship, Global Health Travel Award, and New Investigator Award at CROI 2020. She is part of the Yale-led Spudich Lab, which studies CNS HIV reservoirs and neurological infections.