Jaime H Vera Rojas

Professor Jaime H Vera Rojas is a Chair in HIV Medicine and Head of the Department of Global Health and Infection at Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS), University of Sussex. He holds dual roles as an Honorary Consultant Physician at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust and clinical lead for HIV, geriatrics, neurology, and memory clinics. His work focuses on advancing HIV treatment, prevention, and aging-related challenges through interdisciplinary research.

Education:

• MD, Columbian School of Medicine (1999)
• MRCP, Royal College of Physicians, London (2006)
• DTMH, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (2007)
• Dip GUM, Society of Apothecaries (2010)
• PhD in HIV and Neuroscience, Imperial College London (2015)

Research: His expertise spans HIV-associated comorbidities, neuroinflammation, aging populations, and innovative care models. He leads the RESPOND international cohort study and pioneered digital vending machines for HIV self-testing (awarded a 2018 BMJ Innovation Award). Key areas include:

• HIV-brain interactions and neuroimaging
• Frailty screening in aging HIV patients
• Point-of-care diagnostics for HIV/Syphilis
• Global health collaborations in Zambia and Colombia

Grants & Leadership: Principal investigator for major studies including the WHO-sponsored Prospero trial and the RESPOND consortium. Oversees the BSMS Global Health and Infection research program.

Labs & Teams: Directs a multidisciplinary team including postdocs, clinicians, and researchers focused on HIV pathogenesis, aging, and implementation science. Collaborates with institutions like CIDRZ and Imperial College London.