Nigerian researcher Elizabeth Kehinde Oladipo has been hailed internationally for her groundbreaking HIV brain study.
Nigerian scientist Elizabeth Kehinde Oladipo has gained international recognition after presenting her groundbreaking research on HIV-related brain damage at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha.
Her study focuses on the HIV Tat protein, which remains active in the brain despite patients receiving combined antiretroviral therapy. Oladipo found that Tat drives long-term neurological issues such as memory loss, cognitive decline, and neurodegeneration.
“Tat persists in the brain long after the virus has been suppressed in the blood, which makes it particularly dangerous,” she explained. “My research is focused on understanding how Tat interacts with brain cells, so we can develop ways to protect patients from long-term neurological complications.”
Fellow researchers praised the robustness of her findings, describing the study as a potential breakthrough in tackling HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders.
With Nigeria among the countries most affected by HIV, experts say Oladipo’s work could shape new strategies to protect patients’ brain health and improve long-term quality of life.