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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Thomas Odeny, MD, PhD, MPH received the 2025 Winn Clinical Investigator Leadership Award, which provides salary support, advanced clinical trials expertise, high-impact mentorship, and institutional networks to help participants become independent and highly effective community-oriented clinical researchers.

Meet Dr. Chen Shen, an early-stage HIV investigator at WashU. Chen studies the structural mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions.

Meet the inaugural Scientific Working Group (SWG) Community Champions, San Juan Caffey Jr. and Jourdan Lacey. The Community Champion Program uplifts leaders whose lived experience and professional expertise strengthen our shared mission to equitably end the HIV epidemic in Missouri.

Meet Dr. Beau Ances, professor of neurology at WashU and director of the Midwest D-CFAR Clinical Science Core.

Meet Dr. Octavio Mesner, an early-stage HIV investigator at WashU. Octavio focuses on the intersection of methods and LGBTQ+ health, particularly in non-parametric causal discovery. 

Meet Dr. Aditi Ramakrishnan, an inspiring early-stage investigator at WashU devoted to improving HIV prevention and treatment services. Discover her journey, ongoing projects, and experiences at IDWeek in our November 2025 feature.

Patricia Cavazos-Rehg, PhD, is a professor in the WashU Medicine Department of Psychiatry, and co-director of the Midwest D-CFAR’s Development Core.

Julia López, PhD, is an assistant professor of medicine and early-stage investigator at WashU.

Anne Sebert Kuhlmann, PhD, MPH, is a professor at Saint Louis University’s College for Public Health and Social Justice and co-director of our Dissemination and Implementation Science Core.

Samuel Kizito is an assistant research professor at the Brown School at WashU, and co-investigator in our Developmental Core.

George Kyei is an associate professor of medicine and microbiology at WashU, and co-director of our Advanced Technology Core.