Dr. Jolly serves as the Director of the UAB Minority Health International Research Training (MHIRT) Program.  Her laboratory research focuses on the mechanisms of pathogenesis of lentiviruses, especially of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), specifically in the area of immune responses to infection. Dr. Jolly also conducts research on the suppression of the immune system by aflatoxin and its effects on HIV disease progress in Ghana. In addition to her laboratory research, Dr. Jolly conducts field research on the prevalence and risk factors for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), particularly in pregnant women and STD clinic attendees in Jamaica and voluntary counseling and testing for HIV in pregnancy and adherence to antiretroviral therapy in Ghana. More recently, Dr. Jolly has been studying the genetics of hypertension among Mayans in Guatemala.