Thijs Reyniers

Thijs Reyniers is a researcher at the Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, specializing in sexual health and HIV prevention research with a particular focus on PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) implementation. He holds dual PhDs in Social Health Sciences from Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Health Sciences from Ghent University, which he obtained in 2015 after completing his Master's degree in Sociology (Major: Sociology of Health) at Ghent University in 2009.

His research expertise spans both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, with significant contributions to understanding sexual health behaviors, HIV prevention strategies, and healthcare service delivery for key populations including men who have sex with men, transgender individuals, and sex workers. Dr. Reyniers serves as the social science coordinator for the be-prep-ared study and leads multiple research projects examining PrEP implementation across different contexts, including Belgium and Burkina Faso.

• Sexual Health and HIV Research Group at Institute of Tropical Medicine
• Be-prep-ared study social science coordinator
• Principal investigator on multiple NIH/Flemish Government-funded projects
• Collaborator with international research teams across Europe and Africa

His research interests focus on the intersection of social science and public health, particularly examining how social, behavioral, and structural factors influence the implementation and effectiveness of HIV prevention strategies. Dr. Reyniers' work emphasizes mixed-methods approaches to understand both the quantitative outcomes and qualitative experiences of PrEP users and healthcare providers.

Analysis of his recent publications shows a strong trend toward implementation science research examining real-world PrEP delivery systems, with particular attention to user experiences, healthcare service preferences, and barriers to access among diverse populations. His work bridges clinical HIV prevention with social science perspectives to develop more responsive and effective sexual health services.

Dr. Reyniers has secured multiple competitive research grants from the Research Fund - Flanders and Flemish Government agencies, supporting his work on PrEP implementation in Belgium and internationally. His projects often involve interdisciplinary collaborations with clinicians, epidemiologists, and community organizations to ensure research relevance and applicability.

He has supervised research assistants and contributed to mentoring early-career researchers through his involvement in multiple PhD projects. His work has been recognized through publication in high-impact journals including The Lancet HIV and AIDS and Behavior, and has been featured in multiple news outlets and social media platforms.