معرفی
Dr. Olimpia Meucci: Academic Overview
Dr. Olimpia Meucci is a tenured Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmacology & Physiology at Drexel University College of Medicine. She holds a secondary appointment in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology. Her research focuses on HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), neuroinflammation, and chemokine signaling in the CNS. She leads the TRaCES initiative, fostering collaborations between clinicians and scientists to advance translational research in neuroHIV, cancer metastasis, and brain inflammation.
Educational Background
- MD & PhD: University of Naples, Italy (1994)
Research Interests
Her work investigates:
- Chemokine receptors (CXCR4, CX3CR1) in neuroprotection and neuropathology
- Opioid interactions with chemokine systems in HAND
- Amyloid precursor protein processing in aging HIV patients
- CX3CR1-driven cancer metastasis mechanisms
- Development of human brain slice culture models for neuroHIV studies
Key Contributions
Dr. Meucci’s lab pioneered studies on CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling’s role in synaptic repair and cognitive recovery in HAND. Recent work revealed how morphine disrupts neuronal iron metabolism, exacerbating HIV neuropathology. Her team developed novel CX3CR1 antagonists to target metastatic cancer cells. The lab also engineered US9-derived proteins to manipulate APP processing without affecting secretase activity.
Grants & Awards
- NIH-NIDA MERIT Award (2018-2028)
- Elected to the National Academy of Inventors (2020)
- TRaCES initiative director
Training & Mentorship
She co-directed NIH-funded training grants (T32 MH079785) and mentored over 20 graduate students and postdocs, including recent graduates Dr. Chunta Ho and Dr. Jared Luchetta.
Labs & Collaborations
Leads the Meucci Lab and collaborates with Drexel’s Institute for Molecular Medicine & Infectious Diseases (IMMID). Active partnerships include Dr. Atom Sarkar (neurosurgery) for clinical tissue access and Dr. Alessandro Fatatis for cancer metastasis research.
