The HEIDS program is designed to address the need for a skilled, diverse workforce of researchers and clinicians focused on HIV and emerging infectious diseases. Through a collaboration between the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, affiliated hospitals, and the Rhode Island Department of Health, the program provides scholars with tools and knowledge needed to directly engage with the complexities of HIV and its related conditions. 

The program supports scholars conducting both domestic and international research on HIV as well as tuberculosis, hepatitis, STIs, mental health issues, and substance use disorder. Scholars receive hands-on mentorship from faculty, participate in clinical research training, and have the opportunity to present their findings at national and international conferences. 

This World AIDS Day, CGHE would like to highlight the work of two HEIDS scholars who are dedicated to research in HIV/AIDS. 

Nicole Hinz is collaborating with Dr. Philip Chan at Open Door Health studying the obstacles to follow up in PrEP treatment for HIV exposure among local populations in Providence. For their scholarly concentration, they developed a poster titled, "PrEP use in the prevention of HIV infection and retention at a community health center." This work focused on the factors affecting patients at Open Door Health, in Providence, including cost and personal decision factors. Additionally, they identified the characteristics of patients seeking PrEP for HIV prevention. The next steps involve a more detailed analysis of those patients lost to follow up and their barriers to care. 

Hari Dandapani is a current HEIDS scholar whose research is advancing our understanding of the intersection between HIV and cardiovascular health. Hari’s emergence as a researcher began with a curiosity about how infectious diseases, like HIV, impact not only the immune system but also other organs and systems throughout the body. 

“Before starting my project, I learned that people living with HIV are at a higher risk for heart disease,” Hari shared. “Even with better treatments for the infectious complications of HIV, there are still increases in morbidity and mortality related to some of these less-often considered manifestations of the disease.”

For his project, Hari teamed up with Dr. Sebhat Erqou to address this complex issue by applying machine learning to predict heart disease risk in people living with HIV. Together, they analyzed a comprehensive dataset of veterans living with HIV and their cardiovascular disease outcomes.

Through their efforts, they developed advanced predictive models using neural networks and random forest algorithms, which are tools that allow clinicians to better identify patients at risk for heart disease, even before symptoms appear. Hari’s work represents a significant step toward improving clinical care for people living with HIV by offering more accurate, data-driven tools for healthcare providers.

Hari recently presented his findings at the American College of Cardiology conference in Chicago, and is now preparing a manuscript for publication, a significant milestone in his journey as a researcher.

The work of Nicole, Hari, and other HEIDS scholars highlight the importance of collaboration and innovation in  research for global health equity. As we reflect on World AIDS Day, we recognize the work of researchers whose endless work continues to shape the future of HIV treatment and prevention. Their commitment to furthering scientific knowledge and improving health outcomes is crucial to our global HIV/AIDS response.