Dr Adam Ritchie serves as a Senior Vaccinologist at the University of Oxford's Jenner Institute and Lecturer in Human Science at St Catherine's College. His work focuses on translating academic vaccine research into real-world impact through the development, manufacture, and clinical testing of candidates for rabies, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and SARS-CoV-2. Education: Holds a BSc, PhD, and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) qualification. His research spans vaccine development, clinical trial design, regulatory affairs, and public policy through Vax-Hub Global. Key interests include adenovirus-vectored platforms, scalable manufacturing processes, and addressing global health challenges in resource-limited settings. Analysis of his 2020-2025 publications reveals a cohesive research trajectory centered on ChAdOx1-vectored vaccines. Dominant themes include prime-boost regimens, intranasal delivery systems, cost-effectiveness modeling for low-income countries, and material science applications for vaccine stabilization. His work bridges laboratory innovation with implementation science, particularly in rabies prophylaxis and pandemic response. Ritchie actively contributes to the Douglas Research Group at the Jenner Institute and global vaccine initiatives through Vax-Hub. His collaborative work appears in high-impact journals including The Lancet, Nature Medicine, and Vaccine, with emphasis on clinical translation and equitable vaccine access.
Dr. Laura B. Balzer is an Associate Professor of Biostatistics at the University of California, Berkeley. Her work focuses on causal inference, machine learning, and addressing methodological challenges in both randomized trials and observational studies, particularly in global health contexts. She leads collaborations in East Africa, focusing on HIV elimination and community health in rural regions. Her research emphasizes translating academic findings into real-world impact. Education: PhD in Biostatistics, UC Berkeley (2015) MPhil in Computational Biology, University of Cambridge (2009) BS in Applied Mathematics, University of Vermont (2008) Research Interests: Dr. Balzer’s work addresses causal inference in complex settings, including semi-parametric methods, measurement challenges, and dependence structures. Her global health projects target HIV prevention, tuberculosis transmission, and hypertension management in sub-Saharan Africa. She designs interventions like the SEARCH Dynamic Choice model, which offers flexible HIV prevention options, and evaluates community health worker programs. Publications highlight her contributions to HIV/AIDS research, including studies on PrEP uptake, viral suppression in adolescents, and tuberculosis-HIV co-infection. Methodologically, she advances causal inference frameworks to handle missing data and clustered designs. Awards: While no specific awards are listed, her work has been funded by initiatives like the SEARCH trials, reflecting its scientific and public health significance. Advising & Grants: Balzer collaborates with multidisciplinary teams in Uganda and Kenya, focusing on translational research. Her grants support interventions linking statistical innovation to healthcare delivery improvements in resource-limited settings. Labs/Teams: Her research is embedded within global health partnerships, particularly within the SEARCH trials network, which integrates biostatistics with clinical and community-based implementation.
Francesca Chiodi is a Senior Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden. Her research focuses on HIV pathogenesis, host-microbe interactions, and immune responses in infectious diseases. She holds a Docent title from Karolinska Institutet (1991) and has been continuously employed there since 2004. Her work spans virology, immunology, and clinical trials, with emphasis on HIV prevention strategies, mucosal immunity, and translational research. Research highlights include studies on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), host gene expression in foreskin tissue, and viral surface protein epitope profiling. She has led projects evaluating SARS-CoV-2 responses in mucosal tissues and contributed to global initiatives like the CHAPS study in sub-Saharan Africa. Her division, the Division of Host-Microbe , investigates microbial pathogenesis and immune mechanisms in chronic infections. Key collaborations include studies on B-cell dysfunction in HIV and TB co-infections, as well as vaccine design for immunocompromised populations. Publications (2020–2024) reflect her focus on clinical trials, transcriptomic analyses, and translational models. She has advised numerous collaborative studies but no formal student advisees are listed. Research funding includes grants for mucosal HIV prevention and SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis studies. Ongoing work explores immune reconstitution in early antiretroviral therapy and correlates of protective immunity in mucosal tissues.
Kathryn Macapagal, PhD is an Associate Professor at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine with appointments in Medical Social Sciences (Implementation Science), Medical Social Sciences (Intervention Science), and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She is a licensed clinical psychologist with expertise in health psychology and serving LGBTQ individuals and people living with HIV/AIDS. Her research focuses on translational, social-behavioral and implementation science approaches to improve the health and wellbeing of sexual and gender minority (SGM) adolescents and young adults. She employs online, technology-based, and community-engaged research methods to understand sexual health and HIV prevention needs of SGM adolescents, developing digital behavioral health interventions to address these needs. Dr. Macapagal's work includes examining awareness and use of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among SGM adolescents, exploring use of online spaces for sexual development, and developing text-message interventions to improve HIV testing access. Her research portfolio demonstrates strong trends toward implementation science, digital health interventions for HIV prevention, and addressing health disparities among marginalized youth populations through innovative technological approaches. She serves on several professional leadership roles including as Chair of the Health Equity Special Interest Group for the Society for Digital Mental Health (2023-present) and as a Member of the University of Minnesota Institute for Sex and Gender Health Annual Survey Advisory Council (2022-present). She previously served as Associate Editor for Archives of Sexual Behavior (2020-2023) and on the Medical Advisory Board for Flo Health (2019-2022). Dr. Macapagal leads active clinical trials including a text messaging program designed to increase sexual health information and behavioral skills for LGBTQ+ teens (IRB number STU00217358). She is affiliated with the Institute for Public Health and Medicine (IPHAM) and the Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (NUCATS).
Angela Kashuba, Ph.D., is the John A. and Margaret P. McNeill, Sr. Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. She serves as Director of the Clinical Pharmacology and Analytical Chemistry Core at the UNC Center for AIDS Research. Her research focuses on optimizing HIV treatment, prevention, and cure strategies through clinical pharmacology and analytical chemistry, with an emphasis on antiretroviral drug distribution in tissues and adherence monitoring. Education: Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, University of Toronto (Canada) General Practice Residency, Women’s College Hospital (Toronto) Critical Care Pharmacy Practice, Mount Sinai Hospital (Toronto) Pharm.D., State University of New York at Buffalo Postdoctoral Pharmacology Training, Bassett Healthcare Clinical Pharmacology Research Center Research Interests: HIV drug pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution Development of novel adherence monitoring techniques (e.g., mass spectrometry imaging of hair) Optimizing dosing strategies for HIV prevention and cure interventions Impact of sex, gender, and comorbidities on drug efficacy Long-acting drug delivery systems (e.g., implants, biodegradable formulations) Grants & Projects: NIH P30-AI50410: UNC Center for AIDS Research Core NIH R01AI111891: Multi-Species Mechanisms of Drug Bio-distribution in HIV Tissue Reservoirs NIH/NIAID UM1AI126619: Collaboratory of AIDS Researchers for Eradication (CARE) Industry partnerships (e.g., Chimerix, TaiMed Biologics) Awards: Rawls-Palmer Progress in Medicine Award (ASCPT, 2023) John A. and Margaret P. McNeill, Sr. Distinguished Professorship (UNC, 2013) Labs & Collaborations: Director of the Clinical Pharmacology & Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, pioneering mass spectrometry imaging and drug reservoir analysis. Future Work: Advancing ultra-long-acting HIV PrEP implants Exploring sex-specific pharmacology in transgender populations Global HIV prevention initiatives via data sharing (HIV Pharmacology Data Repository)
E. Jennifer Edelman, MD, MHS is a Professor of Medicine (General Internal Medicine) at Yale School of Medicine and an Associate Professor on Term in Social and Behavioral Sciences at Yale School of Public Health. She serves as an HIV provider at the Yale-New Haven Hospital Nathan Smith HIV Clinic and is the physician consultant in the Addiction Medicine Treatment Program. Dr. Edelman is certified as an internist, HIV specialist, and in Addiction Medicine, and holds multiple appointments across Yale's medical and public health institutions. Professor of Medicine, General Internal Medicine (Primary) Associate Professor on Term, Social and Behavioral Sciences (Secondary) Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program AIDS Care Program Internal Medicine Program in Addiction Medicine Yale Center for Clinical Investigation (co-Director of Education) Yale-Drug use, Addiction, and HIV prevention Research Scholars (DAHRS) Dr. Edelman's research focuses on optimizing HIV prevention and treatment in the context of substance use, including opioid, alcohol, and tobacco use. Applying a range of methodologies, she leads and collaborates on NIH-funded projects to evaluate novel and implement evidence-based addiction treatment in medical settings, especially HIV treatment settings. Her work has focused on understanding harms associated with opioid use among people with HIV and promoting HIV prevention, including use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). She collaborates extensively with community-based and public health partners to advance these goals. Analysis of her recent publications (2024-2025) reveals a strong emphasis on integrated care models addressing substance use disorders within HIV treatment settings. Her research spans multiple methodologies including randomized controlled trials, implementation science, qualitative studies, and epidemiological analyses. Key themes include contingency management for alcohol use disorder among people with HIV, PrEP implementation among high-risk populations, and interventions for tobacco cessation in HIV clinics. Her work demonstrates a consistent focus on addressing health disparities and improving outcomes for vulnerable populations. Dr. Robert A. Savitt & Dr. George D. McCormack Award (2022) Lipkin Award Finalist, Society of General Internal Medicine National Annual Meeting (2021) Lipkin Award Finalist, Society of General Internal Medicine National Annual Meeting (2019) Veterans Affairs Locally-Initiated Project Funding Award New England Society of General Internal Medicine Award for Excellence in Clinical Investigation Society of General Internal Medicine Lawrence Linn Award Dr. Edelman actively mentors trainees including post-doctoral fellows and public health students, and serves as Associate Director of the Research on Addiction Medicine Scholars (RAMS) Program. She regularly serves on NIH grant review committees and is Associate Editor of Addiction Science and Clinical Practice. Her current research includes the EXHIT ENTRE trial (Exemplar Hospital Initiation Trial to Enhance Treatment Engagement), which focuses on addressing untreated alcohol use disorder in hospital settings. She has received substantial grant funding from the National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and National Cancer Institute to support her work in addiction medicine and HIV care.
Doron Dorfman is a tenured Professor at Seton Hall University School of Law and an Affiliate at Harvard Medical School's Center for Bioethics. His expertise spans Torts, Health Law, Disability Law, Employment Law, Family Law, and Bioethics, with a focus on empirical legal studies. He holds advanced degrees from the University of Haifa (B.A., LL.B., LL.M.) and Stanford Law School (J.S.M., J.S.D.). His research explores disability rights, healthcare ethics, and legal responses to medical advancements. Notable contributions include analyzing genetic reproductive technologies, workplace accommodations, and pandemic-related legal challenges. His work has been cited by courts and featured in major newspapers like the New York Times. Key awards include the Michael J. Zimmer Memorial Award (2023) for rising scholars in employment law and recognition in Harvard's Junior Faculty Forum. Dorfman actively contributes to legal blogs and leads initiatives like the Disability Legal Studies Collaborative Research Network (CRN). Recent articles highlight themes such as disability metaphors in law, crisis standards of care, and preventive medicine stigma. His work bridges empirical research and legal policy, aiming to advance equity in health and workplace settings.
Amy K Johnson, PhD, serves as Associate Professor in Pediatrics (Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine) at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, with clinical affiliation at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. She holds key roles in the Institute for Public Health and Medicine (IPHAM) - Center for Dissemination and Implementation Science, Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (NUCATS), and Robert J. Havey, MD Institute for Global Health (IGH). Dr. Johnson earned her PhD from the University of Illinois, Chicago in 2016. Her research centers on adolescent sexual and reproductive health with dual emphases on HIV/STI intervention implementation and ethical dimensions of community participation in cure research. She develops prevention packages targeting adolescents—particularly young women—and addresses surveillance gaps in sexually transmitted diseases through implementation science frameworks. Analysis of her 2024-2025 publications reveals a dominant focus on PrEP implementation across diverse populations and geographies. Her work consistently addresses health disparities through mixed-methods approaches, examining structural barriers among Black women in Chicago, migrant communities in France, and youth in Nigeria. Common threads include innovative delivery strategies (text messaging, peer navigation), cultural adaptation of interventions, and ethical considerations in community engagement—demonstrating her commitment to translating research into equitable prevention solutions. Her scientific contributions have been recognized with the Excellence in Scholarship award from Lurie Children's Hospital (2023) and Best Poster Award from the American Sexually Transmitted Disease Association (2016). Excellence in Scholarship, Lurie Children's Hospital (2023) Best Poster Award, American Sexually Transmitted Disease Association (2016) Dr. Johnson actively shapes public health practice through leadership in the Illinois PrEP Working Group, Getting to Zero Illinois, and as Vice Chair of Epidemiology for the Illinois Public Health Association. Her editorial role at Frontiers in Reproductive Health and memberships in the American College of Epidemiology and American Public Health Association reflect her influence in advancing methodological rigor and equity-focused HIV prevention science. Current projects like iCARE Nigeria and POWER Up demonstrate her commitment to scalable interventions addressing the HIV care continuum.
Laura Balzer, PhD, MPhil is an Associate Professor of Biostatistics at the University of California, Berkeley . Her research focuses on methodological and applied work in causal inference , machine learning , and messy real-world data , particularly in the context of HIV prevention and global health in East Africa. PhD – Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley (2015) MPhil – Computational Biology, University of Cambridge (2009) BS – Applied Mathematics, University of Vermont (2008) Dr. Balzer specializes in the design and analysis of cluster randomized and pragmatic trials , addressing challenges like differential measurement , complex dependence , and missing data . Her work integrates epidemiologic methods with machine learning to enhance rigor in real-world studies. Recent publications emphasize community-based HIV interventions , dynamic choice models , and causal inference frameworks for global health applications in Kenya and Uganda. Her methodological contributions include Two-Stage TMLE for handling sub-sampling and non-independent units , while applied studies examine HIV-tuberculosis interactions , hypertension care models , and social network effects on health outcomes. Dr. Balzer’s role as a Primary Statistician for East African studies underscores her commitment to translating academic advances into public health impact .
Dr. Marla Keller is a tenured Professor of Medicine and Obstetrics & Gynecology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, currently serving as Executive Dean and holder of the Jacob and Jeanne Barkey Chair in Medicine. Director, NIH-funded Harold and Muriel Block Institute for Clinical and Translational Research Interim Senior Associate Dean for Clinical and Translational Research Vice Chair of Research for Department of Medicine Dr. Keller's research focuses on: Biomedical HIV prevention strategies Vaginal microbicide development PrEP implementation in women Cervical cancer screening in HIV+ women Immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 clinical trials Her recent publications emphasize: HPV infection and cervical precancer Vaginal microbiome interactions PrEP delivery systems HIV/HSV coinfection dynamics Convalescent plasma therapy Metronidazole treatment response Key scientific awards include: Infectious Disease Mentoring Award (2013) COVID-19 Distinguished Service Award (2021) Spirit of Achievement Changemaker Award (2023) New York Super Doctor (2011-2015)
Kamila A. Alexander, PhD, RN, is an Associate Professor and Director of the PhD, DNP/PhD, and Postdoctoral Programs at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. She holds the endowed Natalie and Wes Bush Rising Professorship. Her research integrates health equity and social justice frameworks to examine socio-structural determinants of trauma, violence, and sexual/reproductive health outcomes among marginalized youth, with emphasis on intimate partner violence, HIV resilience, and economic opportunity. Education Dr. Alexander earned: B.S. in Exercise Science (Howard University) BSN and MSN/MPH (Johns Hopkins School of Nursing) PhD in Nursing Science (University of Pennsylvania) Research Focus Her work spans: Socio-structural drivers of health disparities Intersections of violence, trauma, and sexual/reproductive health Community-engaged interventions to promote HIV resilience Policy impacts on health equity for Black and Latino communities Publication Trends Recent articles (2019–2024) cluster around reproductive coercion, intimate partner violence, and HIV/STI prevention, employing mixed-methods approaches. Key themes include gender-based power dynamics, structural barriers in healthcare, and culturally responsive intervention strategies. Awards & Honors Notable recognitions: Betty Irene Moore Fellowship for Nurse Leaders (2020) Dean’s Award for Outstanding Nurse Researcher (2020) Johns Hopkins Catalyst Award (2018) New Nurse Faculty Fellowship (2015) Leadership & Affiliations She directs NIH-funded training programs and chairs key initiatives including: Nursing Initiative, Mid-Atlantic CFAR Consortium Violence Working Group, Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research NIH T32 Training Program in Trauma and Violence She is affiliated with six Hopkins research centers focused on global health equity, adolescent health, and infectious diseases.
Rahima Benhabbour is an Associate Professor in the Lampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with an adjunct appointment at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy . Her work bridges polymer chemistry, engineering, and pharmacology to create innovative drug delivery platforms. Ph.D. in Chemistry (McMaster University, 2008) MSc in Medicinal Chemistry (University of Minnesota, 2001) Research focuses on polymer-based biomedical devices for HIV prevention and cancer treatment , emphasizing translational science and 3D-printed intravaginal rings . Articles highlight trends in biomaterials , multipurpose prevention , and nano-delivery systems . KL-2 CTSA Award (2015-2018) for HIV prophylaxis research Teaches BMME 890 - Special Topics and BMME 900 - Research in Biomedical Engineering . Lab is affiliated with the Center in Nanotechnology and Drug Delivery and collaborates with clinical experts in HIV/oncology.
Yu Liu is an Associate Professor of Public Health Sciences at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC). He holds a PhD in Epidemiology from Vanderbilt University, an MPH from George Washington University, and a BSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences from South China Agricultural University. His research focuses on leveraging advanced quantitative methods and implementation science to design HIV prevention interventions targeting marginalized populations, particularly LGBTQ+ communities and Black populations. Key areas include PrEP utilization, stigma reduction, and addressing social determinants of health through nurse-led programs and AI-enhanced tools. Dr. Liu has served as PI/Co-I on multiple NIH-funded studies, with over 60 peer-reviewed publications in journals like AIDS Care , PloS One , and Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes . His work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration with academic, clinical, and community organizations, including the CDC and Department of Health. Teaching responsibilities include advanced epidemiology courses (PM416, PM451, PM510) and directing the Master of Epidemiology Thesis Workshop. He prioritizes mentorship of students from diverse backgrounds, fostering academic competence and inclusive research environments.
Neal D. Goldstein, PhD, MBI, is an Associate Research Professor of Epidemiology at Drexel University's Dornsife School of Public Health. His work focuses on computational methods in epidemiology, particularly leveraging electronic health records (EHR) for infectious disease surveillance and public health resource optimization. He holds a PhD in Epidemiology from Drexel and an MBI from Oregon Health & Science University. Research interests include data analysis methods, infectious disease transmission, spatial epidemiology, and translational epidemiology. Goldstein has authored over 60 peer-reviewed publications, a textbook on EHR-based epidemiological analyses, and co-authored chapters in academic textbooks. His work has been featured in national media outlets including Kaiser Health News and Politico. Key projects include NIH-funded studies on HIV surveillance and predictive modeling of healthcare-associated infections. Goldstein also maintains a blog discussing methodological advances in epidemiology and EHR research. He advises students and collaborates on grants focused on improving public health resource allocation through data-driven approaches. Goldstein's lab emphasizes bridging EHR informatics with epidemiological practice to address challenges in infectious disease management and healthcare equity.
Roy M. Gulick, M.D., is the Rochelle Belfer Professor in Medicine and Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Weill Medical College of Cornell University. He serves as Principal Investigator for the NIH-funded AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) and HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) clinical trials units. His research focuses on antiretroviral therapy for HIV treatment/prevention and pandemic response strategies for diseases like COVID-19. Education: B.A., Johns Hopkins University (1982) M.D., Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (1986) M.P.H., Harvard School of Public Health (1993) Research Interests: Dr. Gulick specializes in clinical trials for HIV therapeutics, including novel antiretrovirals and long-acting formulations. His work integrates pharmacogenetics, adherence monitoring via mass spectrometry, and pandemic preparedness frameworks. He has led global studies on HIV-related metabolic changes, racial disparities in treatment outcomes, and co-infections like HIV/HCV. Scientific Awards: Elected to American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI) (2006) Lifetime Achievement Award, HIV Congress, Mumbai (2012) Mid-Career Investigator Award (K24), NIAID/NIH (2003-2013) Excellence in Teaching Award, Weill Cornell (2005) Companero Award, Latino Commission on AIDS (2002) Leadership & Collaborations: Dr. Gulick co-chairs the NIH COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel and the U.S. DHHS HIV Clinical Practice Guidelines Panel. He collaborates with institutions like New York Presbyterian Hospital and has contributed to over 200 publications spanning HIV virology, pandemic response, and pharmacogenomics.
