Heather Pines

Heather Pines is an Adjunct Professor at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health & Human Longevity Science at the University of California San Diego (UCSD). Her research focuses on HIV prevention strategies, particularly among marginalized populations such as men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender women, and people who use drugs. She has led multiple NIH-funded studies as Principal Investigator, including projects on PrEP implementation, HIV transmission networks, and harm reduction interventions.

Education & Professional Background: While specific academic degrees are not detailed here, her extensive publication record and grant leadership indicate advanced training in public health and epidemiology. She is affiliated with UCSD’s Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute.

Research Interests: Dr. Pines’ work spans PrEP optimization, substance use epidemiology, gender-based health disparities, and border health. She investigates barriers to HIV prevention among high-risk groups, including stigma, systemic inequities, and drug policy impacts. Recent studies emphasize peer-driven interventions and decentralized testing strategies to improve access in vulnerable communities.

Grants & Contributions: She has managed NIH grants totaling over $3M, including:

• Onboarding Positives and PrEP users to Engage Negatives (OPPEN) (NIH R34MH121234, 2020–2023)
• Sexual Networks and HIV Transmission Clusters among Substance Using MSM (NIH K01DA040543, 2015–2021)

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams at UCSD, the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), and institutions in Tijuana, Mexico, focusing on binational health challenges. Active in the ImPrEP Study Group and the PrEP implementation research network.