معرفی
Gregory D. Kirk, MD, PhD, MPH, serves as Vice Dean for Research and Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. His primary affiliations include the Division of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and the School of Medicine, with significant contributions to the Center for Global Health and the ALIVE (AIDS Linked to the Intravenous Experience) study. Dr. Kirk's research spans domestic and international settings, focusing on viral infections, particularly HIV and hepatitis viruses, among vulnerable populations including people who inject drugs.
Dr. Kirk earned his BS from Oklahoma State University (1988), MD from University of Oklahoma (1993), MPH (1995) and PhD (2003) from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. His educational background reflects a strong foundation in both clinical medicine and population health sciences, enabling his multidisciplinary approach to infectious disease epidemiology.
Dr. Kirk's research interests center on understanding the natural history of viral infections, with particular emphasis on HIV and hepatitis viruses. His work spans from pathogenesis to clinical to behavioral research, with a specific focus on non-AIDS outcomes of HIV including cancer, liver and lung diseases. He employs clinical, imaging, and 'omic' methods (genetic, epigenetic, proteomic) to identify individuals at greatest risk for clinically relevant outcomes from HIV, HBV and HCV infections. His international work primarily focuses on Africa, particularly Uganda, Senegal, and South Africa, addressing HIV/HBV co-infection and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Analysis of Dr. Kirk's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on HIV and hepatitis virus epidemiology among people who inject drugs, with increasing attention to non-AIDS comorbidities, aging with HIV, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerable populations. His research spans multiple disciplines including virology, epidemiology, public health, and clinical medicine, with particular strength in longitudinal cohort studies and innovative methodological approaches to studying hard-to-reach populations.
Scientific Awards and Honors:
- Fulbright Global Scholar Award (2017-2019)
- Elected Member, American Society of Clinical Investigation (2016)
- Elected Fellow, Infectious Diseases Society of America (2013)
- Elected Fellow, American College of Epidemiology (2012)
- Multiple Faculty Awards for Excellence in Teaching at Johns Hopkins (2006-2015)
As Vice Dean for Research, Dr. Kirk plays a significant role in mentoring junior faculty and students in epidemiological methods and infectious disease research. His leadership extends to multiple large-scale research projects including the ALIVE study, SHIELD (Study of HIV Infection in the Etiology of Lung Disease), HIV and Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Africa (H2A Consortium), and the Liver Cancer Comprehensive Control (LC3) initiative. These projects have secured substantial grant funding from NIH and other sources, supporting research across multiple international sites.
Dr. Kirk leads the ALIVE study team, a multidisciplinary group of epidemiologists, clinicians, and community members focused on understanding the natural history of HIV among injection drug users in Baltimore. His research group collaborates extensively with international partners, particularly in Africa, to address the growing burden of non-AIDS comorbidities among people living with HIV in resource-limited settings.
