IDCRC Investigator Profile: Christine Khosropour, PhD, MPH
Christine Khosropour, PhD, MPH, is an associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Washington (UW) and an associate director of the UW/Fred Hutch Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) Implementation Science Core. Her work involves both research and applied epidemiology in the field of STI/HIV prevention and control, with a particular focus on the treatment, natural history, transmission, and health implications of chlamydial infection.
How long have you worked with a VTEU?
I became a Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Unit (VTEU) investigator at the University of Washington in 2022.
Can you share more about a current IDCRC study you're working on?
I am a protocol co-chair with Julie Dombrowski, MD, MPH, on a phase IV blinded, randomized, active-controlled, non-inferiority trial to compare the efficacy of a three-day versus seven-day regimen of doxycycline for chlamydia treatment (called the “DoxyShort” study). The seven-day course of doxycycline is the current standard of care for chlamydia treatment. The study is designed to look at outcomes for urogenital and rectal chlamydia separately. We are recruiting at five sites in the U.S. and two sites in Kenya.
Learn more about the study here.
Briefly describe the IDCRC-supported trials you’ve worked on.
This is the first IDCRC trial for which I have been involved. It has been an outstanding experience so far, and I hope to continue working on IDCRC-supported trials in the future.Learn more about IDCRC Studies
Of these trials, what has been the most impactful or highlight of the work?
The opportunity to work on this trial with investigators and staff at all seven sites has been a highlight. It is inspiring to work with people in the sexual and reproductive health field who are so passionate about their work to improve the health and well-being of the populations they serve. Personally, I have never been involved in a trial this large, and to be able to see all of the pieces that need to come together to get the trial off the ground has been an amazing learning experience.
What is a strength or example of the importance of the IDCRC?
The DoxyShort study highlights the importance of the IDCRC to fill a gap in funding pragmatic trials. DoxyShort is very practical. We are simply testing a shorter regimen of an FDA-approved medication against the current standard-of-care regimen. So in that sense, it’s not particularly innovative or “state of the art”. But the trial has the potential to directly inform clinical practice for a very common infection.