Dr. Kelly Jordan Sciutto

Biography

Kelly L. Jordan-Sciutto is a Professor at Penn Dental Medicine, where her laboratory investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration associated with neuroinflammation due to HIV infection. Her research emphasizes the roles of inflammation and oxidative stress in the progression of non-infectious neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, while also extending findings related to HIV-associated neurocognitive dysfunction. Dr. Jordan-Sciutto aims to uncover common mechanisms among these conditions to identify potential therapeutic targets. She is particularly interested in understanding how neuroinflammation induces both neuroprotective and neurotoxic responses from glial cells, including astrocytes and microglia. Currently, her research focuses on the role of cell cycle proteins and stress response mechanisms in neurons affected by HIV-induced neuroinflammation. Early findings indicate significant novel roles for proteins like retinoblastoma and E2F1 in neuronal survival and death. Dr. Jordan-Sciutto is dedicated to assessing how neurons, astrocytes, and microglia interact in response to neuroinflammation to gain insights into basic mechanisms of neuronal damage and dysfunction.

Research Interests

Experience