Emerging infectious diseases are a growing threat and present major challenges to communities worldwide. The Emerging Infectious Disease and HIV Scholars Program (HEIDS) program seeks to develop a physician-scientist workforce focused on clinical research to inform practical responses to HIV and associated infections over the next decades.

The HEIDS program is designed to inspire, train, support, and retain students as a community of scholars to become leaders in research and treatment of emerging infectious diseases with a broad focus on HIV.

HEIDS Scholars participate in faculty-mentored infectious disease research, broadly focused on HIV and related infections and the challenges posed by the HIV epidemic. Domestic and international clinical research projects include: mental health, substance use disorders, TB, Hepatitis, STI's, Bacterial infections, COVID, etc. As scholars develop, implement, and publish their research projects, the HEIDS program offers didactic training to provide a foundation for clinical research along with a dedicated research block. Scholars participate in didactic training, lectures, networking opportunities and complete in-person Responsible Conduct of Research Training. The HEIDS program also supports conference travel for scholars with first or second-authored accepted abstracts and publication charges for related manuscripts.  

The Emerging Infectious Disease and HIV Scholars at Brown University program is a collaboration between The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, the affiliated hospitals, and the Rhode Island Department of Health. 

HEIDS Scholars are provided with research stipends to carry out an HIV / infectious disease-focused mentored research project, usually carried out over the summer. For most students, summer stipends are set at $3,750. The HEIDS Scholars program is open to PLME undergraduate students and Warren Alpert Medical School students.  Learn More.

HEIDS sponsors a limited number of longer-term fellowship opportunities to pursue more in-depth research projects, with up to one year of support. These longer term fellowships are generally available for medical students on an approved ASP. Learn More.

In Fall 2025, the HEIDS program will pilot a semester-long HEIDS PLME Mentored Group Research Project (MGRP), led by Co-I Dr. Fizza Gillani. The MGRP was developed in response to strong PLME student demand for introductory research experiences. 

The HEIDS program is grant funded through the National Institutes of Health: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (2R25AI140490).

For more information about the Emerging Infectious Disease and HIV Scholars program, please email:
Laura Pleasants, Program Specialist (laura_pleasants@brown.edu)