The Midwest D-CFAR is proud to announce the investigators selected to receive the first round of research pilot awards. These awards aim to support emerging and established researchers as they expand their focus to HIV-related studies. Designed to generate preliminary data for competitive funding applications, these awards support new investigators, those transitioning to HIV research, and those pursuing their first R or K awards.

We received a diverse pool of applications featuring research projects across public health, implementation science, basic science, and clinical research from researchers in a range of disciplines, including medicine, social work, and public health. This highlights an increasing focus on interdisciplinary research and a commitment to translating findings into real-world impact that we are happy to support.

Below is a brief description of the groundbreaking projects funded through this initiative in 2025.

Investigator Pilot Awardees

Project: Potential role for inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain 4 (ITIH4) as a marker of latently infected cells and a measure of reservoir size
Principal investigator: Javan Kisaka, WashU
Key personnel and collaborators: George Kyei, WashU; Evelyn Bonney, University of Ghana
Summary: ITIH4 is a secreted protein that is significantly up-regulated in latently infected cells but down-regulated in actively infected cells. The goal of this project is to test the hypothesis that cells latently infected with HIV produce an abundance of ITIH4 that could identify these cells and serve as a quantifiable surrogate measure of the reservoir size.

Project: Addressing the late presentation, and low HIV care service utilization among youths living with HIV in Sierra Leone
Principal investigator: Samuel Kizito, WashU
Key personnel and collaborators: Mamadu Baldeh, University of Sierra Leone; Nabayinda Josephine, WashU; Fred Ssewamala, WashU
Summary: This project examines why young people in Sierra Leone with both HIV and tuberculosis (TB) stop treatment or struggle to follow it. Through interviews and data reviews, the research team will aim to identify barriers to completing TB treatment and factors affecting care. Findings will help to design interventions to improve health outcomes and ensure that more youth receive and complete essential TB treatment.

Project: Evaluating InfaNt FeedinG PrActice GuidElines for Individuals with HIV (ENGAGE-HIV)
Principal investigator: Julia Lopez, WashU
Key personnel and collaborators: Amanda Zofkie, WashU; Sydney Thayer, WashU
Summary: This study aims to improve HIV chest/breastfeeding guidelines in clinical settings. We will engage with healthcare providers and birthing persons living with HIV (BPLWH) to understand their experiences and challenges. A survey will then assess how well these guidelines are followed. Our findings will lead to a practical guide, helping providers and BPLWH make informed decisions about chest/breastfeeding and enhancing overall health.

Project: Structural and biochemical study of the interaction Bbtween CARD8 and HIV-1 RNA
Principal investigator: Chen Shen, WashU
Key personnel and collaborators: Sebla Kutluay, WashU; Liang Shan, WashU
Summary: This project studies how HIV-1 RNAs are sensed by innate immune receptor CARD8. We plan to perform: 1) the biochemical and biophysical elucidation of CARD8 and HIV-1 RNA interaction; 2) the structural determination of the CARD8 and HIV-1 RNA complex; 3) the functional validation of CARD8 and HIV-1 RNA complex using structure-based mutagenesis. The goal is to understand the atomically detailed mechanisms of CARD8-HIV-1 RNA interaction.

Project: Development and validation of an HIV-related stigma Instrument in the Awi Zone, Ethiopia
Principal investigator: Mintesnot Teni, SLU
Key personnel and collaborators: Muluken Yenesew, Bahir Dar University, Co-investigator; Alemtsehay Mekonnen, Bahir Dar University
Summary: HIV stigma is a major issue in Ethiopia, especially in rural areas like the Awi Zone, where cultural beliefs and limited awareness worsen the problem. This project will create and test a tool to measure HIV stigma in this community, ensuring it reflects local experiences. By understanding stigma better, we can develop programs to reduce it, improving access to HIV testing, care, and support for people living with HIV.

Project: Development and validation of an HIV-related stigma Instrument in the Awi Zone, Ethiopia
Principal investigator: Emmanuel Tetteh, WashU
Key personnel and collaborators: George Kyei, WashU and University of Ghana; Elvin Geng, WashU; Peter Puplampu, University of Ghana; Rachel Presti, WashU; Isaac Kyeremateng, WashU
Summary: Emerging HIV cure therapies offer hope but involve uncertainties in risks, benefits, and outcomes. This study explores patient, provider, and stakeholder perspectives in the USA and Ghana to inform future treatments. Using innovative methods, researchers will examine preferences for cure therapies versus current antiretroviral therapy (ART). Findings will guide patient-centered strategies for developing and delivering effective, acceptable HIV treatments.

Project: Refugee youth HIV study: Leveraging existing study to generate data to advance HIV research among refugee youth
Principal investigator: Nhial Tutlam, WashU
Summary: Through this supplemental project, researchers will collect a second round of data to determine whether a combined intervention consisting of psychosocial intervention and youth economic empowerment can improve HIV and mental health outcomes among refugee youth.

Project: Evaluating measures of intersectional stigma for HIV seroconversion
Principal investigator: Octavio Mesner, WashU
Key personnel and collaborators: Aditi Ramakrishnan, WashU; Kneeshe Parkinson, WashU; Joshua Rusow, WashU; Jeremy Goldbach, WashU
Summary: Prioritizing intersectional stigma is critical for ending the epidemic. Links have been established to factors associated with HIV acquisition, but questions remain on effectively measuring stigma in the context of HIV prevention among Black and Hispanic LGBTQ communities. This project evaluates several measures of self-reported stigma, stress, and discrimination for predicting HIV seroconversion to provide new insights for HIV prevention.

Project: Assessing the influence of IPV on ART adherence among adolescent girls transitioning into young women in Southern Uganda
Principal investigator: Josephine Nabayinda, WashU
Key personnel and collaborators: Fred Ssewamala, WashU
Summary: This project examines the influence of intimate partner violence (IPV) on ART adherence among young women living with HIV in Southern Uganda. Using cross-sectional data from 350 women across 39 clinics, researchers will assess how IPV affects treatment adherence and also explore the mediating roles of mental health—specifically depression—and stigma in this relationship.

Partner Pilot Awardees

Partner Pilot Awards support investigator pairs, with one person from an academic institution and the other from a community-based organization or public health agency.

Project: PrEPForward: Uncovering Barriers and Solutions to PrEP Services in Rural and Urban Missouri
Principal investigator: Aditi Ramakrishnan, WashU
Key personnel and collaborators: Dima Dandachi, University of Missouri; Stephen Adams, APO Community Health Center
Summary: In partnership with public health and community-based organizations, this study aims to identify barriers and facilitators to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) services in rural and urban Missouri. We will interview patients and providers across clinics state-wide. Based on these findings, we hope to design more effective PrEP services in rural and urban Missouri and thus improve HIV prevention health equity.

Special thanks to all who supported these awards, including: the NIH and NIAID, the WashU Office of the Provost, the WashU Center for Dissemination and Implementation, the WashU Medicine Light Institute for Global Health and Transformation, and Saint Louis University.

Written by April Houston.

Midwest D-CFAR announces first round of pilot funding awardees

Investigator Pilot Awardees

Partner Pilot Awardees

Veteran HIV researcher Robert Siliciano explores innovative paths toward an HIV cure at January seminar