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Maria
J.
Wawer
,
MD

Professor
Maria Wawer

Departmental Affiliations

Primary
Division
Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Center & Institute Affiliations

Contact Info

627 N. Washington Street, 2nd Floor
Baltimore
Maryland
21205
US        
410-614-7386

Research Interests

Rakai Health Sciences Program, HIV, HIV prevention, HPV, male circumcision, sexually transmitted infections, population-based cohort study

Experiences & Accomplishments
Education
MHSc
University of Toronto
1979
MD
McMaster University
1977
Overview

Co-founded, with Drs. David Serwadda and Nelson Sewankambo, the Rakai Health Sciences Program (RHSP), Rakai District, Uganda. Since 1988, the RHSP has conducted population-based cohort studies on HIV and related infections including malaria, HPV, HSV-2, BV and other STIs; behavioral risk factors; HIV/STI individual and community -randomized prevention trials; operations research on HIV and reproductive health service provision; molecular epidemiology of HIV, effects of HIV subtypes, and HIV superinfection; HIV/STI care and treatment; and social, familial and demographic consequences of HIV. Trials have included STI control for HIV prevention, STI control during pregnancy for the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission, male circumcision for HIV prevention in men and male circumcision in HIV+ men for the prevention of HIV/STI transmission to women. Current interests also include the role of mucosal immunity and the genital biome in resistance/susceptibility to HIV infection.

Select Publications
  • Reynolds SJ, Makumbi F, Newell K, Kiwanuka N, Ssebbowa P, Mondo G, Boaz I, Wawer MJ, Gray RH, Serwadda D, Quinn TC. Effect of daily acyclovir on HIV disease progression in individuals in Rakai, Uganda, co-     infected with HIV-1 and herpes simplex virus type 2: a randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trial.     Lancet Infect Dis. 2012 Mar 17. [Epub ahead of print]

  • Tobian AA, Kigozi G, Gravitt PE, Xiao C, Serwadda D, Eaton KP, Kong X, Wawer MJ, Nalugoda F, Quinn TC, Gray RH. Human papillomavirus incidence and clearance among HIV-positive and HIV-negative men in Rakai, Uganda. AIDS. 2012 Mar 23. [Epub ahead of print]

  • Wawer MJ,  RH Gray. Challenges in assessing associations between hormonal contraceptive use and the risks of HIV-1 acquisition and transmission.  Future MIcrobiology, 2012, March: 7: 315-8.

  • Prodger JL, Gray R, Kigozi G, Nalugoda F, Galiwango R,  Kakanga M, Hirbod T, Wawer MJ, Sewankambo N, Serwadda D, Kaul R; the Rakai Genital Immunology Research Group. Impact of asymptomatic Herpes simplex virus-2 infection on T cell function in the foreskin of men from Rakai, Uganda.  AIDS. 2012 Apr 21. [Epub ahead of print]

  • Gray R, Kigozi G, Kong X, Ssempiija V, Makumbi F, Wattya S, Serwadda D, Nalugoda F, Sewenkambo NK, Wawer MJ. The effectiveness of male circumcision for HIV prevention and effects on risk behaviors in a post-trial follow-up study in Rakai, Uganda. AIDS. 2012 Jan 4. [Epub ahead of print]

Projects
Male Circumcision Trial For Hiv Prevention, Rakai, Uganda (through the Rakai Health Services Program)
BV Etiology, Natural History, and Sexual Transmission (through the Rakai Health Sciences Program)
Community Opinion Leader Trial Rakai-Uganda (through the Rakai Health Sciences Program)
ARV effects on HIV epidemiology & behaviors, Rakai Uganda (through the Rakai Health Sciences Program)
Viral and immunologic factors contributing to the lack of HIV transmission among couples (through the Rakai Health Sciences Program)
Rakai Health Sciences Program
Circumcision: HIV/STIs and behaviors in a RCT and post-RCT surveillance; Rakai Community Cohort Study
Effects of Male Circumcision (MC) in the Community, with Nested Clinical Research
Laboratory support for Rakai Program research activities (through the Rakai Health Sciences Program)
The Problem With Male Sexual/Repro Health:Qualitative/Quantitative Study, Uganda
Evaluating Demand Generation (Stylish Man) for HIV/Family Planning Services Rakai
Evaluating demand generation (stylish man) for HIV/family planning services
Stylish man program: testing innovative demand creation for safe medical male
Phylogenics networks to address transmission of HIV
The Problem With Male Sexual/Repro Health: Qualitative/Quantitative Study
Understanding HIV Risk and Service Use in Hotspot Ugandan Fishing Communities
A Randomized, controlled trial of Acyclovir prophylaxis versus placebo among HIV/HSV-2 co-infected individuals (through the Rakai Health Sciences Program)