Lab Technician: Ms. Muznabanu Bachani

Lab Technician

Muzna received her B.S. in Biological Chemistry in Kenya. Her undergraduate senior year thesis, was titled, “The use and effects of benzodiazepines in cerebral malaria in children”. This research was conducted in collaboration with Wellcome Trust and Kenya Medical Research Institute. She subsequently worked in the Product Research and Development department at Procter and Gamble where her work included technical analysis and assessment of competitive products.

She joined the Nath laboratory in 2006 as a senior Laboratory technician. She is supervised by Dr. Jeffrey Rumbaugh and works on projects funded by his K award from the NIH. He current research involved the exploration of the molecular mechanisms and interactions of human and viral factors in the development of neurodegeneration in patients with HIV dementia for therapeutic interventions through investigating the interaction of HIV protein, Tat, with anti-Tat antibodies via glutamate receptors, and with human metalloproteinases. She is also developing techniques for early and rapid detection and quantitation of individual viral proteins and their respective antibodies in human biological fluids in order to be able to assess the extent of infection and hence the appropriate approach to treatment.