2021 M. Irené Ferrer Awardee of SARS-CoV-2, Columbia University
Delivette Castor is Assistant Professor (in Medicine), Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, the Columbia University Medical Center. She is an epidemiologist who studies how to deliver public health innovations at scale by examining the unique and joint effects of biomedical, behavioral and structural factors that affect infectious diseases in priority populations in low- and middle-income country settings (LMICS), and in marginalized populations in the US. She joined the faculty of Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) in November 2019. Prior, she led implementation research activities within the President’s Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) at two U.S government agencies; as Senior Epidemiologist and eventually, acting chief of Implementation Science branch, the office of HIV/AIDS (OHA), United States Agency for International Development (USAID); and Senior Epidemiologist in the Office of Research and Science, the office of the Global AIDS coordinator, Department of State (S/GAC). She worked within PEPFAR-supported programs to design, implement and evaluate comprehensive HIV interventions, introduce and scale-up novel prevention technologies. These often involved designing large community trials utilizing quantitative and qualitative methods, stakeholder engagement, capacity building, analysis, dissemination and utilization of study findings through coordination with policymakers and program-planners. Her HIV research involves intersecting areas of interest such as women’s and reproductive health, health disparities, mental health, nutrition, cervical cancer and other emerging infections (i.e., SARS-CoV-2).
Awarded: $60,000
What is their research on?
Dr. Castor’s research focuses on implementing strategies to prevent and cure the human immunization virus (HIV) in both sexes.
Why study this condition?
While the incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is declining, women and girls still account for nearly 50% of the almost 40 million people in the world who live with the disease. Women in heterosexual relationships are twice as likely to become infected as their partners and HIV infection doubles the risk of cervical cancer.
What did the doctor find?
Dr. Castor’s team has made significant progress in HIV prevention and treatment strategies. Their research has been summarized in five published papers and has directly influenced national implementation programs in several low- and middle-income countries. They have helped integrate HIV prevention methods such as the monthly dapivirine vaginal ring and long-acting cabotegravir for women and girls. Additionally, they developed an AI-driven method to detect persistent and dynamic markers of HIV infection in Lesotho, a country with one of the highest burdens of HIV in the world.
How did the Foundation for Gender-Specific Medicine’s grant specifically help their research?
The Foundation’s grant helped support over 15 students by providing short internships, stipends, and a training workshop to enhance their skills in scientific research, data analysis, and policy engagement.
Current Status:
Dr. Castor’s innovative research earned her an NIH/NCI-funded award to integrate and scale up HPV-based screening and treatment in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. However, the termination of millions of dollars in research funding at Columbia University resulted in the cancellation of this NIH award on March 10 of this year.