Dr. Leonardo Rios, PhD, graduated from the University of Cape Town with a doctoral degree in Haematology, under the mentorship of Associate Professor Shaheen Mowla. During his PhD studies, Dr. Rios investigated the impact of HIV infection on lymphomagenesis. Specifically, his research focused on the oncogenic potential of the HIV-1 Transactivator of Transcription (Tat) protein in lymphoma development. His thesis elucidated how Tat disrupts the transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of two critical oncogenes, MYC and AICDA. Building upon his doctoral research, Dr. Rios's postdoctoral work, supported by the AACR/AORTIC BIG Cat Grant, aims to expand our understanding of Tat's role in lymphoma pathogenesis in HIV-positive individuals. His current research employs NGS to identify the Tat interactome within B cells and to interrogate whether these interactions contribute to lymphoma. By elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying Tat-mediated lymphomagenesis, Dr. Rios's work holds promise for the development of novel targeted therapies for HIV-associated lymphomas.