Research
- Lauren Richey and her colleagues primarily focus on novel approaches to retention in care, to risk reduction strategies for those with tobacco and substance use, and to management of comorbidities in HIV patients. In particular, Dr. Richey has collaborations with numerous investigators at LSU (comprehensive alcohol research center) and nationally. Projects include novel approaches to improving retention in care, tobacco cessation and alcohol use disorders in HIV patients.
- Yussef Bennani with Dr. Annalisa Perez have initiated a collaborative HIV/renal clinic within the ID center. This particular patient population has not been systematically studied. Doctors Bennani and Perez have begun implementation of best practice diagnostics and therapeutics. They will be presenting their outcomes in national meetings.
- Paula Seal, with her colleagues, have developed proposals to study a comprehensive approach to the care of the aging HIV population. Dr. Seal actively designs and implements quality improvement projects with the HOP team to improve the care of people with HIV.
- Michael Hagensee and colleagues focus on HIV-associated malignancies, particularly mucosal cancers such as anal cancer. He has been local clinical site leader for the AIDS malignancy consortium as well as the Anchor study. He has been following a cohort of patients referred for anal dysplasia and cancer. Moreover, cooperation with the LSU/LCMC Cancer Center provides additional translational research expertise in the areas of Kaposi’s sarcoma.
- As a Ryan White funded clinic, outcome-specific data are available for clinical research and quality projects.
- In addition, with about >1500 patients in care, our clinic is a frequent site for Phase 3 clinical trials exploring the new HIV treatment modalities.
- Meredith Clement, with her colleagues, have a number of NIH-funded projects exploring novel modalities for HIV prevention with an emphasis on pre-exposure prophylaxis.
- Rebecca Lillis, along with Dr. Clement, have several industry sponsored HIV prevention studies using injectable anti-retroviral regimens.
- Rebecca Lillis leads the research team at the LSU Sexual Health Clinic and the LSU STI Core Lab. With collaborators across the country, the team has numerous industry sponsored studies of novel diagnostic tests and therapeutic interventions for sexually transmitted infections and vaginosis/vaginitis. These diagnostic studies include new nucleic acid amplification tests, the validation and impact of STI point of care testing, and comparisons of commercially available testing.
- Stephanie Taylor is site PI for several STI therapeutic trials including novel antimicrobials for resistant infections. She is also Medical Director of the LSU STI Core Lab and laboratory based STI testing protocols at LSUHSC.
- Lillis is the site PI for a national study investigating the use of penicillin allergy testing for patients in the STI clinic and the site PI for an international study investigating a vaccine for the prevention of Gonorrhea.
- Lillis also collaborates with translational and public health researchers interested in STI mucosal immunity, epidemiology, and other topics.
- As the major provider of sexual health services in New Orleans, the LSU CrescentCare Sexual Health Clinic, directed by Dr. Lillis, provides an opportunity to study clinical and epidemiological aspects of these infections.
- Joanne Maffei and Julio Figueroa have medical directorships for the infection prevention and antibiotic stewardship programs at LCMC Hospitals. As part of their work, they interact with infection preventionists, pharmacy, and clinical microbiology to develop data-driven protocols and interventions to reduce hospital-acquired conditions and improve outcomes while reducing unnecessary antimicrobial use.
- This group has performed a number of cohort studies looking at the impact of different interventions on hospital acquired infections, antibiotic utilization, and laboratory utilization.