Midwest D-CFAR announces special emphasis pilot awardees
The Midwest D-CFAR is excited to announce the two recipients of our recent special emphasis request for applications! This RFA sought innovative projects aimed at identifying and addressing systemic gaps in HIV care in Missouri and the broader Midwest, aligning with national and local HIV/AIDS priorities. We are thrilled to support two exceptional projects that promise to generate valuable insights and tools to improve the lives of people living with HIV. Each awardee will receive up to $20,000 and ongoing support from Midwest D-CFAR leadership.
Below is a brief description of the groundbreaking projects funded through this initiative.
Mintesnot Teni, PhD
Project: Understanding the Impact of Air Pollution on HIV Outcomes
Principal investigator: Mintesnot Tenkir Teni, PhD, Saint Louis University (SLU)
Key personnel and collaborators: Enbal Shacham, SLU
Summary:
Mintesnot Tenkir Teni, assistant professor at Saint Louis University, was selected to receive support for their project examining the connection between air pollution and HIV-related health outcomes.
People living with HIV are living longer, but as they age, many experience health challenges. There's growing evidence that long-term exposure to air pollution might worsen HIV-related immune issues and increase the risk of heart, lung, and brain problems. This study will look at electronic health records from the WashU HIV clinic to see if there are links between common air pollutants and important HIV-related health indicators. By using location data, the project will also explore how neighborhood-level air pollution might play a role. This research aims to provide practical information on how air pollution affects the health of people living with HIV in the St. Louis area, a region facing both HIV disparities and environmental challenges. The findings will help inform strategies that combine environmental and HIV care to improve health in urban communities.
Dima Dandachi, MD, MPH
Project: Developing a Tool to Proactively Identify Individuals at Risk of Disengaging from HIV Care
Principal investigator: Dima Dandachi, MD, MPH, University of Missouri-Columbia
Key personnel and collaborators: Lindsey Filiatreau and Aditi Ramakrishnan, WashU
Summary:
Our second award goes to Dima Dandachi, associate professor at the University of Missouri, for her project focused on creating a new tool to identify people living with HIV who are at high risk of falling out of care. Many individuals in the U.S. still aren't consistently receiving the HIV care they need. Current methods often struggle to predict who might disengage from care before it happens. This project will develop a survey-based tool that considers various factors to assess an individual's risk of disengagement. The tool will be designed with input from community members and will be tested to ensure it is reliable and accurate. The goal is to create a practical tool that healthcare providers can use to proactively reach out to individuals at risk, helping them stay engaged in care and improving overall HIV outcomes. This project will be implemented and evaluated at different healthcare settings in Missouri, including urban and rural clinics, as well as community-based organizations.
The Midwest D-CFAR is proud to support these innovative, community-centered projects and looks forward to the valuable contributions they will make to addressing critical gaps in HIV care in our region. Stay tuned to our blog for updates on these projects and other D-CFAR news.