Rick B. Meeker

Rick B. Meeker, PhD is a Professor of Neurology in the Department of Neurology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. His research laboratory is based in the Neuroscience Research Building at 115 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Dr. Meeker maintains an active research program focused on the neurological complications of viral infections, particularly HIV neuropathogenesis and neuroinflammation.

Dr. Meeker received his Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Arts in Psychology from Bowling Green State University. He completed post-doctoral training in Neurobiology at Purdue University and in Molecular Pharmacology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This interdisciplinary training in both psychology and molecular pharmacology has shaped his research approach to neurological disorders.

Dr. Meeker's research primarily investigates the mechanisms of HIV neuropathogenesis and the development of therapeutic strategies for treating neuroinflammation. His laboratory explores how inflammatory changes within the brain caused by viral infections initiate toxic cascades that disrupt neural function and lead to neuronal death. His work specifically examines changes in calcium homeostasis, glutamate receptor function, and inflammatory responses in primary neuronal, microglial, and macrophage cultures. A significant portion of his research utilizes the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) as a model for HIV-induced CNS inflammation and neurodegeneration, providing valuable comparative insights into human disease processes.

Analysis of Dr. Meeker's publication record reveals a strong focus on neurotrophic factors, particularly the p75 neurotrophin receptor, and their role in both neural repair and neurodegeneration. His recent work has expanded into tau pathology, TDP-43 aggregates in ALS, and the intersection of viral infections with neurodegenerative processes. The research demonstrates a consistent trajectory from basic mechanisms of HIV neuropathogenesis toward developing targeted therapeutic interventions that protect neurons and reduce inflammation.

Dr. Meeker has maintained continuous research productivity for over four decades, with publication activity spanning from the 1980s through 2025 as evidenced by his most recent work on ALS-associated TDP-43 aggregates. His research bridges virology, neuroscience, and immunology, creating a unique interdisciplinary approach to understanding and treating neurological complications of viral infections.

While specific grant information isn't detailed in the provided materials, Dr. Meeker's sustained research program spanning multiple decades strongly suggests successful acquisition of significant federal and institutional funding. His collaborative work with researchers across multiple institutions and disciplines indicates an extensive network of research partnerships focused on neurovirology and neurodegenerative mechanisms.

Dr. Meeker's laboratory appears to be part of the broader UNC Neuroscience Center, collaborating with other faculty through the Neuroscience Center Faculty Collaboration Database. His research program integrates cellular and molecular approaches to study neuroinflammatory processes, with particular emphasis on the choroid plexus as a site of immune cell trafficking into the CNS and the role of neurotrophin receptors in modulating inflammatory responses.