How did you first become involved with ACTG? What drew you to the network?
I became involved in the ACTG ten years ago when I started at the University of Pennsylvania. I was drawn to the ACTG network because of the opportunity to participate in a collaborative, NIH-funded research infrastructure that has played a central role in shaping the modern treatment of HIV through rigorous, practice-changing clinical trials. The ACTG provides a unique environment where investigators, clinicians, statisticians, and community representatives work together to design studies that directly inform national and international guidelines. It addresses clinically relevant questions that arise in day-to-day care, including antiretroviral optimization, management of comorbidities, and treatment considerations in key populations.
What area(s) of research are you focused on in your work with ACTG?
My research has largely focused on the use of long-acting injectable antiretroviral therapy for the treatment of HIV, with particular interest in how these therapies can be used in populations who may face challenges with daily oral adherence. I have been involved in studies evaluating the safety, efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and real-world implementation of long-acting agents, including cabotegravir and rilpivirine, with a focus on special populations such as pregnant individuals, people with substance use disorder, and those with barriers to consistent engagement in care. This work aims to help define how long-acting therapies can be incorporated into clinical practice to improve treatment outcomes and expand therapeutic options for people living with HIV.
Can you briefly describe A5402? What do you find most unique or exciting about this study?
A5402 is a new study in the ACTG evaluating alternative pharmacologic approaches to treating major depressive disorder in people with HIV, including the use of medications with novel mechanisms of action compared with standard selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor therapy, escitalopram and pramipexole. The goal of the study is to determine whether these strategies can improve depressive symptoms, treatment tolerability, and patient-reported outcomes. What makes this study particularly exciting is that it recognizes depression as a critical comorbidity in HIV care and directly tests interventions that could improve both mental health and HIV-related outcomes. The potential to identify more effective or better-tolerated treatments for depression in this population could meaningfully improve quality of life, support antiretroviral adherence, and ultimately lead to better long-term clinical outcomes for people living with HIV.
Why is A5402 especially important now, and why is ACTG uniquely positioned to undertake it?
The ACTG has the multidisciplinary expertise needed for a study like A5402, bringing together HIV clinicians, psychiatrists, pharmacologists, statisticians, and behavioral scientists to evaluate both psychiatric outcomes and HIV-related endpoints such as antiretroviral adherence and viral suppression. The network’s centralized data management, rigorous protocol development process, and strong community engagement structure also allow complex studies to be conducted in a standardized and scientifically robust manner across many sites globally to address this extremely important topic.
What do you find most meaningful about your work with ACTG and why?
The ACTG offers the opportunity to contribute to studies that have global impact, ensuring that advances in HIV therapeutics are supported by high-quality data and can be translated into real-world clinical practice. I like having the ability to collaborate with colleagues from across the country and around the world, each bringing different expertise and perspectives to study design and implementation. These collaborations not only strengthen the scientific rigor of the work, but also foster mentorship, professional development, and the generation of new ideas that would not be possible within a single center.
When you’re not working, what do you enjoy doing, or what helps keep you grounded?
When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with family and friends and taking advantage of opportunities to get together whenever possible. I also enjoy going to Broadway shows, which has become one of my favorite ways to relax. I appreciate live theater for the energy of the performances, the creativity involved in the productions, and the chance to experience something different each time. Whether it is seeing a new show or revisiting a classic, I find that time spent at the theater, along with time with family and friends, helps me recharge and keeps me balanced.