Whitney Irie recently joined WashU as an Associate Professor. She is an implementation scientist whose research advances equitable sexual and reproductive health care, with a primary focus on Black women’s access to HIV prevention. We sat down with Dr. Irie to learn more about her journey to implementation science, her ongoing work, moving back to St. Louis, and more!

Thomas A. Odeny, MD, MPH, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine at WashU and member of the Midwest D-CFAR, was recently awarded Just-in-Time (JIT) core usage funding through the Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences (ICTS) for an innovative project titled Epidemiology of Cancer of Kaposi Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus At JOOTRH, as well as a JIT Enhancement Fund through the Midwest D-CFAR.

Kneeshe Parkinson reflects on her experience at AIDS 2026, highlighting key lessons on community leadership, women’s voices, digital connection, and innovative HIV prevention. In this blog, Parkinson explores how global innovations can inspire new approaches to HIV research, prevention, and care across the Midwest.

Dr. Julia López and her collaborators recently published early findings from the ENGAGE-HIV study, which aims to analyze the adoption of updated breast/chestfeeding guidelines for people living with HIV. Read to learn more about their findings and the future of the project.

The Midwest D-CFAR community is celebrating a major NIH award for REALISE (Research on End-user Acceptability and Long-term Impacts of HIV Cure Strategies). Led by Dr. Elvin Geng and a multidisciplinary team of collaborators, REALISE will examine what people living with HIV want from future cure strategies, helping ensure that advances in HIV cure science translate into meaningful, patient-centered impact. Read more about this exciting project and the team behind it.

Shelly Dalton, PhD, Assistant Professor at SLU and member of the Midwest D-CFAR, was recently awarded Just-in-Time (JIT) core usage funding through the Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences (ICTS) for an innovative project titled ADHD, Prescription Stimulant Treatment, and the HIV Care Continuum, as well as a JIT Enhancement Fund through the Midwest D-CFAR.

Midwest D-CFAR Scientific Working Group Community Champions reflect on community events throughout the month of June, including the Future Is Femme Ball and Party with A Purpose.

Sebla Kutluay, PhD has joined the Midwest D-CFAR as Co-Director of the Advanced Technology Core (ATC). Dr. Kutluay will work with George Kyei, MD, MPhil, PhD—Director of the ATC—to promote advanced technologies to advance the health of people living with HIV.

The Midwest D-CFAR recently partnered with the Light Institute for Global Health and Transformation to host the Missouri HIV Prevention Vending Machine Project, which brought together community organizations, public health professionals, and innovators to develop creative solutions for expanding access to HIV and STI prevention resources through vending machines.

Burel Goodin, PhD is a pain scientist whose work has helped illuminate a frequently overlooked issue in HIV care: chronic pain among people living with HIV. Learn more about his research and current clinical trial, supported by the Midwest D-CFAR.

The Midwest D-CFAR recently hosted the inaugural Midwest HIV Response and Action Summit. The Summit fostered a collaborative environment that not only highlighted innovative research and programming, but also emphasized the importance of cross-sector partnership to advance a science-based response to ending the HIV epidemic in Missouri.

Several members of the Midwest D-CFAR, including Drs. Christina Stallings, Ginger McKay, and Emmanuel Tetteh, have received a Transcend Initiative grant for a project titled the WashU Mycobacteria-focused Transcend Program (MycoTranscend).

In St. Louis, young Black men who have sex with men continue to face disproportionately high rates of HIV, while testing uptake remains persistently low. In response, ChampionSTL emerged as a community-centered initiative designed to reimagine HIV prevention through peer leadership, human-centered design, and accessible science communication. Learn more about ChampionSTL and what it means to build hope, equity, and power through community-academic partnerships.

Dr. GG recently defended their dissertation, marking an enormous milestone in their academic and professional career. We sat down with Dr. GG to learn what this accomplishment means for them, and how mentorship has factored into their growth as a scholar and professional.

The Midwest D-CFAR recently hosted the second annual HIV Proposal Bootcamp, where emerging HIV researchers received rapid, expert feedback on grant proposals. Here, we reflect on the event, highlighting the outstanding consultees and consultants who made the day a success.

Brittney van de Water, a certified pediatric nurse practitioner and global health delivery researcher, will visit St. Louis in April to discuss strategies for “empowering the frontline” through nursing leadership and implementation science. Learn more about her career, motivations, and the future of TB/HIV research.

Lindsey Filiatreau, PhD, MPH, Midwest D-CFAR member and Assistant Professor at the WashU School of Public Health, attended the 29th Annual National CFAR Meeting in Denver. We asked Dr. Filiatreau to share some key takeaways from the meeting.

Darius Rucker, M.Ed and Kneeshe Parkinson, B.S. reflect on 314 Day in St. Louis. Throughout the day, community leaders across the city gathered to strengthen relationships and celebrate and support the community.

The Midwest D-CFAR HSSU St. Louis Dept. of Health STAR internship program allows dedicated Harris-Stowe students to gain hands-on experience in the field of HIV research and public health.

Dima Dandachi, MD, MPH, Co-Director of the Scientific Working Group, was accepted to the CAPS Visiting Professor Program at the University of California, San Francisco, which provides intensive training and mentoring to support the development of early-career researchers across the United States.