Jeffrey Wickersham, PhD
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Biography
Jeffrey Wickersham is Assistant Professor of Medicine in the section of infectious diseases. His research is focused on improving HIV treatment and prevention outcomes among sexual and gender minorities, including transgender women, gay men, and bisexual men. Dr. Wickersham's research has focused on development of biomedical and behavioral interventions, including peer/patient navigation, implementation of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention, development of artificial intelligence-based "chatbot" technology to improve uptake of HIV testing, and adaptation of mHealth applications for transgender women to scale-up HIV testing and linkage to PrEP services. Most of this research is being conducted in Southeast Asia, primarily at sites in Malaysia and Thailand.
Active Research
Dr. Wickersham has several active, NIH-funded research studies. He is currently PI/MPI on the following studies:
- Developing an Artificial Intelligence Chatbot to Promote HIV Testing
- Grant No: R21AI152927
- Description: This NIAID-funded R21 focuses on the development and evaluation of an artificial intelligence-based "chatbot" application to improve uptake of HIV testing among men who have sex with men (MSM), including gay and bisexual men, in Malaysia. The project will leverage machine learning technology to create an adaptive and resourceful tool that links and retains vulnerable, high-risk MSM in routine HIV testing and prevention services.
- Improving HIV testing and PrEP for transgender women through mHealth
- Grant No: R21AI157857
- Description: This multiple PI award (Yale: Jeffrey Wickersham; UConn: Roman Shrestha) aims to adapt and evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a mHealth smartphone application to improve HIV testing uptake and retention, as well as facilitate linkage to PrEP, for transgender women in Malaysia. The selected application will include a clinician's portal that can empower smaller, community-based health care providers to engage with transgender patients and facilitate continuity of care.
Education & Training
- Postdoctoral AssociateYale School of Medicine (2012)
- PhDUniversity of Connecticut (2010)
- MAUniversity of Maine (2005)
- BASouthwestern University (2000)
Activities
- Perspectives on Ethical Issues Around the Use of Smartphone Apps for HIV Prevention in Malaysia: Focus Group Study With Men Who Have Sex With MenMansfield, United States 2022
- Developing an Artificial Intelligence Chatbot to Promote HIV TestingKuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2020-2022)This NIH-funded R21 grant aims to develop an artificial intelligence "chatbot" to improve the uptake of HIV testing among men who have sex with men in Malaysia. The project will utilize new technology in machine learning to generate a flexible new mHealth tool that can help link and retain MSM to routine HIV testing.
- HIV Testing and Prevention among Thai Transgender Women and MSMBangkok, Thailand 2018Research collaboration with Mahidol University examining innovations around HIV testing service delivery, including online HIV testing and at-home HIV testing, among Thai transgender women and men who have sex with men (MSM).
- Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV Prevention among Transgender Women Sex Workers in MalaysiaKuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2014-2019)Evaluation of behavioral and biomedical interventions for HIV and substance abuse prevention among female and transgender women sex workers in Malaysia.
- HIV & Substance DependenceKiev, Ukraine 2011Development and evaluation of medication-assisted treatment programs for opioid dependence among individuals reentering the community from correctional settings.
- HIV and Drug Abuse in MalaysiaKuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2010-2015)Intervention of HIV, Drug Use and the Criminal Justice System in Malaysia
Professional Service
Organization | Role | Date |
---|---|---|
NIH Center for Scientific Review - NIH Special Emphasis Panel - ZRG1 RPHB-F (53) | Advancing communication strategies to support future HIV vaccine use | 2022 |
NIH Center for Scientific Review - HIBI/PPAH Member Conflict Review - ZRG1 RPHB-F (02) | HIV/AIDS Related Behavioral Health Research (HIBI) and Population and Public Health Approaches to HIV/AIDS (PPAH) | 2022 |
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health | Special Issue on Prevention, Care and Treatment of HIV, Substance Use and Addiction (Special Issue Editors: Sten Vermund, Jeffrey Wickersham, Lauretta Grau) | 2021 - Present |
NIH Center for Scientific Review - IRAP Special Emphasis Panel - ZRG1 PSE-N (90) | Infectious Diseases, Reproductive Health, Asthma and Pulmonary Conditions: Infectious Disease Epidemiology (IRAP) | 2020 |
NIH Center for Scientific Review - NIDA Special Emphasis Panel - ZDA1 HXO-H (22) | Limited Competition Cohort Studies of HIV/AIDS and Substance Abuse (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | 2019 |
NIH Center for Scientific Review - NIDA Special Emphasis Panel - ZDA1 HXO-H (18) | HIV, HCV, and Related Comorbidities in Rural Communities Affected by Opioid Injection Drug Epidemics in the United States: Building Systems for Prevention, Treatment and Control (UG3/UH3) | 2017 |
NIH Center for Scientific Review - NIDA Special Emphasis Panel - ZDA1 HXO-H (17) | Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Advanced Molecular Detection in Support of Systems for Prevention, Treatment and Control of HIV, HCV and Related Comorbidities in Rural Communities Affected by Opioid Injection Drug Epidemics | 2017 |
NIH Center for Scientific Review - NIDA Special Emphasis Panel - ZDA1 HXO-H (14) | Services planning research in the Appalachian region to address adverse health consequences associated with increased opioid injection drug use (R03) | 2016 |
AIDS & Behavior | Reviewer | 2013 - Present |
International Journal of Drug Policy | Reviewer | 2013 - Present |
Departments & Organizations
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS
- Clinical & Community Research (YCCR)
- Dean's Advisory Council for LGBTQI Affairs
- Directories
- Infectious Diseases
- Internal Medicine
- Research Interest
- Yale Institute for Global Health
- Yale Medicine Outlist
- Yale-UPR Integrated HIV Basic and Clinical Sciences Initiative