Mahesh Mohan, Ph.D.

The focus of Dr. Mohan’s laboratory is to investigate epigenetic mechanisms, in particular, the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) and DNA methylation in the molecular pathogenesis of HIV/SIV infection. He currently has two NIH funded grants, an R01 grant to study the role of microRNAs in immune cell dysfunction and a recently funded R56 grant to study the molecular mechanisms underlying HIV/SIV induced oral mucosal dysfunction. In the R01 entitled “Role of microRNAs in B-cell dysfunction in HIV/SIV infection” (awarded March 2016) he and his team will determine the combinatorial effect of suppressing viral replication and gastrointestinal inflammation using D⁹-THC, the most psychoactive anti-inflammatory cannabinoid in Marijuana on T and B-cell function and disease progression. His laboratory was recently awarded a new R01 grant to study the role of extracellular vesicles in HIV induced gastrointestinal epithelial dysfunction and lymphoid fibrosis. His laboratory is extending the cannabinoid studies to other chronic inflammatory diseases such as Celiac disease and Tuberculosis using the unique rhesus macaque model of Gluten sensitive enteropathy and Tuberculosis, respectively. He has a broad background in veterinary medicine, pathology and molecular biology, with specific training and expertise in key research areas pertaining to nonhuman primate immunology.