(Episode 12) In the final episode of Microbe Matters Season 3, we sit down with Urvi Parikh, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, to explore the evolving landscape of HIV prevention. Together, they discuss how PrEP is transforming prevention strategies, the challenges of ensuring equitable access to care both in the U.S. and Read more

(Episode 11) How does HIV evolve, and what role does gut health play in its progression? In this episode of Microbe Matters, we sit down with Dr. Cristian Apetrei to unravel some of the biggest questions in HIV research. From tracing the virus’s origins through molecular clocks to studying non-human primates for breakthrough discoveries, Dr. Apetrei Read more

(Episode 10) This episode of Microbe Matters commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Pitt Men’s Study, one of the longest-running HIV research initiatives in the world. Hosted in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh, this groundbreaking study has played a critical role in understanding HIV transmission, prevention, and care since the early 1980s. Featuring: Dr. Charles Rinaldo, Read more

(Episode 9) In 1984, a young boy named Ryan White was diagnosed with HIV from a contaminated blood transfusion. His fight for dignity and access to education in the face of discrimination became a turning point in the nation’s response to the HIV epidemic. From his legacy came the Ryan White CARE Act, which continues Read more

(Episode 8) The HIV epidemic endures within the global health sphere. As of 2022, approximately 39 million people live with HIV/AIDS worldwide; eliminating the viral threat remains challenging. Scientific and clnical efforts to eradicate HIV/AIDS have been ongoing for decades, yet we are still left without a vaccine or cure for the virus. But there Read more

(Episode 7) Vaccine hesitancy, defined as reluctance or refusal to have oneself or one’s children vaccinated against infectious diseases, is certainly not a modern novelty. In recent years, however, the idea has inspired the emergence of socio-political groups and organizations that make up what is now referred to as the “anti-vax” movement. Once a fringe Read more