SPOTLIGHT on Aditi Ramakrishnan
NOVEMBER 18, 2025
The Midwest D-CFAR community is full of brilliant and inspiring people, and we want to introduce them to the world! For our November 2025 spotlight, we are featuring Aditi Ramakrishnan, MD, MSc, early stage investigator and Midwest D-CFAR member. Many thanks to Dr. Ramakrishnan for taking the time to speak with us!
Could you briefly describe your career journey and research interests?
Aditi Ramakrishnan, MD, MSc
Dr. Ramakrishnan: I knew that I wanted to develop a career intertwining science, writing, and human rights - but as a Clinton Fellow in Chennai, India, I realized that I hoped to explore this intersection as a physician. During my Infectious Diseases fellowship in Atlanta, the local HIV epidemic drove me to focus on HIV-related implementation science research, with the hope that I could contribute to work which would truly improve HIV prevention and treatment services. I am now lucky to be at WashU, the birthplace of the implementation science field, and where I am part of an HIV implementation science research team led by [Midwest D-CFAR director] Elvin Geng and provide clinical care for people living with HIV and who need HIV prevention.
What projects do you currently have ongoing?
Dr. Ramakrishnan: I'm currently engaged in several studies focused on improving domestic PrEP and HIV care. For example, I am partnering with [Midwest D-CFAR Scientific Working Group co-director] Dima Dandachi of the University of Missouri and Stephen Adams of APO Community Health Center (formerly AIDS Project of the Ozarks) to lead PrEPForward, a Midwest D-CFAR pilot study examining patient and provider views regarding barriers and facilitators to PrEP services in rural vs. urban Missouri. Through the support of a [NIH] KL2 Career Development Award and the Gilead HIV Research Scholars Program Award, I am applying epidemiology and implementation mapping to better measure PrEP retention and co-design strategies to improve PrEP retention services in St. Louis and the US Midwest. I am conducting a few other analyses, all of which draw from qualitative methods, discrete choice experiment methodology, epidemiology, and my clinical background as a physician, to better understand how to improve local HIV prevention and treatment services.
Aditi Ramakrishnan with her family. PHOTO courtesy of Aditi Ramakrishnan.
You were recently in Atlanta for IDWeek - can you talk a little about your experience and anything you are taking away from that meeting?
Dr. Ramakrishnan: IDWeek is one of my favorite conferences and is so high energy. I completed my fellowship in Infectious Diseases at Emory University, and it was wonderful to be in Atlanta again and connect with friends and colleagues who have supported me in my journey. I moderated a session on HIV co-conditions, which highlighted important work investigating HIV and TB screening in ICE detention centers. There were inspiring conversations about advocacy regarding HIV services and research, and topics ranging from women building networks in research to the latest antibiotic drug development.
What is your life like outside of work?
Dr. Ramakrishnan: We recently became a family of four and enjoy exploring the many parks and coffee shops in St. Louis.
Edited by Kate Gershwin.