Departmental Affiliations
Contact Info
Research Interests
HIV / AIDS; antiretroviral therapy; non-communicable diseases; non-AIDS outcomes (lung, liver disease, cancer); drug use; epidemiology; liver cancer; biomarkers; genetic susceptibility; ALIVE study; The Gambia; Uganda;
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Experiences & Accomplishments
My research focuses on understanding the natural history of viral infections, particularly HIV and the hepatitis viruses, in both domestic and international settings. The ALIVE (AIDS Linked to the Intravenous Experience) study is a long-standing and productive cohort that characterizes the natural history of HIV infection among intravenous drug users in Baltimore, MD. Our research in ALIVE ranges from pathogenesis to clinical to behavioral. In particular, I focus on the non-AIDS outcomes of HIV including cancer, liver and lung diseases. I also work on related topics with international collaborators, primarily in Africa. My research employs clinical, imaging, and 'omic' (genetic, epigenetic, proteomic) methods to help understand and identify individuals at greatest risk for clinically relevant outcomes from HIV, HBV and HCV infections. The long-term goal of this research is to translate this information into targeted interventions to help reduce the burden from these infections.
Honors & Awards
1994-1997, American Cancer Society, Physician Training Award in Preventive Medicine
1995, Delta Omega National Public Health Honor Society
1996, AMA Glaxo-Wellcome Resident Leadership Award for Outstanding Community Service
1997, Fellowship for Research Training in Cancer, International Agency for Research on Cancer
1998, Visiting Scientist, International Agency for Research on Cancer
2002, American Society of Microbiology, George McCracken Infectious Disease Fellow Award
2002, NIH Fellow’s Award for Research Excellence
2003, Phi Beta Kappa, JHBSPH
2005, Thomas and Carol McCann Innovative Fund for Asthma and Respiratory Disease Award
2005, Gustav J. Martin Innovative Fund for Research on HIV/AIDS Award
2010, 2012 Outstanding Teacher Award, Principles of Epidemiology
2012, Elected Fellow, American College of Epidemiology
2013, Elected Fellow, Infectious Diseases Society of America
Select Publications
Selected Recent Publications
Greene M†, Covinsky K, Astemborski J, Piggott DA, Brown T, Leng S, Galai N, Mehta SH, Guralnik J, Patel KV, Kirk GD. The relationship of physical performance with HIV disease and mortality: A cohort study. AIDS; 2014. (In Press)
Linas BS†, Latkin C, Westergaard RP, Chang LW, Bollinger RC, Genz A, Kirk GD. Capturing illicit drug use where and when it happens: an ecologic momentary assessment of the social, physical and activity environment of using versus craving illicit drugs. Addiction, 2014. (In Press)
Drummond MB†, Kirk GD. HIV-associated lung disease: Recent insights and implications for the clinician. Lancet Respir Med, 2014; 2(7): 583-92. PMCID: PMC4111094
Kirk GD, Linas BS†, Westergaard RP, Piggott D, Bollinger RC, Chang L, Genz A. The EXposure Assessment in Current Time (EXACT) Study: Implementation, feasibility and acceptability of real-time data collection in a community cohort of illicit drug users, AIDS Res Treat, 2013: 594671. PMCID: PMC3836292
Westergaard RP†, Hess T, Astemborski J, Mehta SH, Kirk GD. Longitudinal changes in engagement in care and viral suppression for HIV-infected injection drug users. AIDS, 2013; 27(16): 2559-66. PMCID: PMC3795966