Biography

Dr. Raymond is a viral immunologist with a great deal of research experience in the HIV/AIDS field. Her research interests are primarily in HIV infection and pathogenesis, molecular mechanisms of HIV pathogenesis, functional effects of the HIV Nef protein, exosomes, nanotherapeutics and epigenetics.

Her current research interests include studies on the potential role of exosomes in HIV neuropathogenesis in context of drugs of abuse and Nef-induced regulation of cerebral innate immunity. Dr. Raymond is the principle investigator of a NIDA funded supplement to an R01 award (awarded to the Immunology Department Chairman) developing nanotherapeutic strategies to treat HIV infection and opiate addiction. She also received a pilot grant from the Mount Sinai Summer Institute on NeuroAIDS Disparity (MSINAD) examining genetic differences in innate immune receptors of individuals within the MSINAD cohort with/without neurological impairment.

Dr. Raymond currently holds a faculty appointment in the Immunology Department of the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine within Florida International University. She has been conducting research, teaching, and advising undergraduate and graduate students since 2008. As an Assistant Professor, she continues to write her own research proposals as well as review research proposals of colleagues and students, designs experimental approaches for her research studies, analyzes results, and prepares manuscripts for publication in research journals. Dr. Raymond also enjoys mentoring undergraduate and graduate students as they spend time with her in the research laboratories.