Media contact: Adam Pope
Renee Heffron, Ph.D.Renee Heffron, Ph.D., has been named director for the Center for AIDS Research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine.
“I am extremely excited to join the UAB community and be in a position to bring the community together and to support the impactful HIV research being conducted,” Heffron said. “As I’ve gotten to know the people and work going on, I am really looking forward to opportunities to partner on HIV research in Alabama and the region and to participate in the momentum of global health work that has been growing.”
Currently, Heffron’s research focuses on daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis and novel PrEP agents for HIV prevention, utilizing research methods from clinical epidemiology and clinical trial design, implementation science, causal inference, behavioral science and qualitative research.
“Dr. Heffron comes to UAB with a wealth of knowledge and an excitement to grow the footprint of our Center for AIDS Research,” said Selwyn M. Vickers, M.D., FACS, dean of the UAB Heersink School of Medicine, CEO of the UAB Health System and CEO of the UAB/Ascension St. Vincent’s Alliance. “She will continue to build on its well-established success while developing a vision to take it to the next level of excellence.”
Heffron will be taking over the reins from Michael Saag, M.D., who retired from UAB last year but continues to see patients at both UAB and the 1917 Clinic.
Heffron will assume the role of director July 1, 2022.