Dr. Dionna Williams
The Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology welcomed Dionna Williams, PhD, as Associate Professor, who joined the department on January 1, 2024.
Originally from Bridgeport, Connecticut, Dr. Williams’s early love for science and desire to understand human disease focused their aspirations towards biomedical research. A first-generation college student, Dr. Williams graduated Cum Laude from Hofstra University before attending the Albert Einstein College of Medicine for their graduate studies. Dr. Williams’ research is dedicated to increasing understanding of the intersection between substance abuse and HIV neuroscience. Specifically, her research focuses on adverse drug:drug interactions between substances of abuse and antiretroviral therapy efficacy in limiting HIV infection in the brain.
An additional research focus centers on the mechanisms by which neuroinflammation promotes neurologic dysfunction during HIV, and evaluating how cannabinoids can be leveraged to modulate immune responses and restore neurologic health. Dr. Williams also incorporates studies evaluating biologic contributors that perpetuate HIV health disparities into their research program.
Fun facts about Dionna: they have a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and Hap Ki Do, are an undefeated amateur Muay Thai fighter and coach, and they almost went to a performing arts high school but chose to attend a science high school instead.
