Tice Lab

Welcome to the Tice Lab, where we study how chronic conditions such as HIV infection and repetitive head trauma disrupt brain homeostasis and contribute to cognitive decline. Our research focuses on identifying molecular mechanisms that impair waste clearance, drive neuroinflammation, and compromise synaptic function. We investigate how HIV alters aquaporin-4 (AQP4) localization on astrocyte end feet, disrupting glymphatic clearance and accelerating neurodegeneration, using advanced molecular tools, cell models, and EcoHIV mouse systems. In parallel, we explore how chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and Parkinson’s disease share convergent pathways involving mitochondrial dysfunction, synaptic instability, and inflammation. In collaboration with the Langford Lab, we apply large-scale omics approaches, including spatial proteomics and transcriptomics, to uncover common biological vulnerabilities across neurologic and psychiatric disorders. Through this work, we aim to identify early biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets to protect brain health in vulnerable populations.