The NIAID-STAR program wraps up its second year
One week this summer, nine undergraduate and graduate students from four different universities gathered at WashU’s Hillman Hall every day to discuss how to end the HIV epidemic among young people like them. These students were part of the second cohort of the National Institutes of Health Allergy and Infectious Disease Stimulating Training and Access to HIV Research Experiences (NIAID-STAR) program, hosted by D-CFAR co-director Juliet Iwelunmor and Temitope Ojo (associate director of the Light Institute for Global Health and Transformation at WashU).
2024 NIAID-STAR Scholars.
HIV remains a major global public health crisis. In 2023, 39.9 million people were estimated to be living with HIV and over 1.3 million people had newly acquired HIV. Across the US, nearly one in five of those newly diagnosed with HIV are adolescents and young people. Young people are often unaware of their HIV status, as they may not have easy access to testing for HIV or sexually transmitted infections.
The burden of HIV is inequitably distributed across historically oppressed communities in the US, especially Black, Indigenous, and other people of color as well as queer and transgender populations. Although these communities are most impacted by the HIV epidemic, they are also the most underrepresented in the current field of HIV research. The NIAID-STAR program was created to respond to this gap.
Over the course of this year’s intensive program (May-June 2024), the NIAD-STAR team accomplished: 1) three weeks of online trainings, workshops, and panels comprised of researchers, community representatives, and HIV advocates; 2) two weeks of field work with existing local community partners; and 3) one week of in-person collaboration. STAR scholars connected with many important public health leaders, including the Director of Health for St. Louis City, Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, and the Director of Research Training and Special Programs at NIAID, Dr. LeShawndra Price.
The 2024 cohort of STAR scholars gained research and practical knowledge to enhance their efforts to contribute to ending the HIV epidemic.
The 2024 cohort of NIAID-STAR Scholars with Juliet Iwelunmor (bottom left).
The NIAID-STAR program is accepting applications for its third cohort of scholars until Thursday, Oct 31. Learn more and apply at star4ph.org.
Written by Temitope Ojo.