Shelly Dalton Awarded ICTS JIT Grant
July 16, 2026
Shelly Dalton, PhD, Assistant Professor at Saint Louis University and member of the Midwest D-CFAR, was recently awarded $5,000 in 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. Dr. Dalton was also awarded a JIT Enhancement Fund through the Midwest D-CFAR, bringing their total funding to $10,000 for this project.
Shelly Dalton, PhD
The ICTS JIT Core Usage Funding Program is designed to provide quick access to funding to use any of the JIT Cores for research advancing medical knowledge that can improve human health. JIT Enhancement Funds provide supplemental grant support to researchers who have received ICTS JIT funding for projects that are consistent with the goals of the Midwest D-CFAR.
“Receiving this funding is especially meaningful to me as an early-career investigator working to build an independent program of research in an increasingly competitive funding landscape,” stated Dr. Dalton. “Support from the ICTS and Midwest D-CFAR provides not only critical resources, but also the opportunity to generate the preliminary evidence needed to move promising ideas forward and position them for future NIH funding.”
Dr. Dalton's research explores how attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may affect antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among people living with HIV (PLWH). While ART is highly effective at improving health outcomes, consistently taking medication remains a challenge for many individuals, and emerging evidence suggests that people with both HIV and ADHD are significantly less likely to maintain optimal adherence.
The project will investigate how executive functioning challenges, such as difficulties with organization, attention, planning, and impulse control, along with increased risk for substance use disorders, particularly alcohol use disorder, may contribute to missed ART doses. ADHD is more common among people living with HIV, yet remains understudied in HIV research. This work therefore aims to address an important gap in understanding barriers to successful treatment.
Dr. Dalton's research will also examine whether ADHD treatment, including prescription stimulant medications, may improve ART adherence by reducing executive functioning difficulties and lowering the risk of substance use disorders. Findings from this study could help inform more personalized strategies to support medication adherence and improve long-term health outcomes for PLWH.
Reflecting on the award, Dr. Dalton expressed gratitude for the opportunity to “strengthen and expand” their project ahead of an NIH submission: “The Midwest D-CFAR JIT Enhancement Fund is truly invaluable because it gives me the opportunity to strengthen and expand the pilot work at a critical stage of the project. This additional support will allow me to address important preliminary questions, build a stronger foundation for the research, and position the project for the next step toward a competitive NIH grant application.”
Congratulations, Dr. Dalton, from your colleagues at the Midwest D-CFAR!
Written by Kate Gershwin.