Center for Global Health Faculty

Associate Professor

Academic Degrees

• MD
• PhD
• MPH

Departmental Affiliation

• Name:

  Epidemiology

  Affiliation Type:

  Primary

Departmental Address

Contact Information

Email:

gkirk+jhsph.edu

Phone:

410.502.2038

Fax:

410.955.1383

Link:

SciVal Experts Research Profile

Research and Professional Experience

My research focuses on understanding the natural history of viral infections, particularly HIV and the hepatitis viruses, in both domestic and international settings. The ALIVE (AIDS Linked to the Intravenous Experience) study is a long-standing and productive cohort that characterizes the natural history of HIV infection among intravenous drug users in Baltimore, MD. Our research in ALIVE ranges from pathogenesis to clinical to behavioral. In particular, I focus on the non-AIDS outcomes of HIV including cancer, liver and lung diseases. I also work on related topics with international collaborators, primarily in Africa. The interaction of viral, environmental and genetic factors is an important determinant in progression of many viral diseases. My research employs genetic, proteomic, and other novel laboratory and imaging methods to help understand and identify individuals at greatest risk for clinically relevant outcomes from HIV, HBV and HCV infections. The long-term goal of this research is to translate these markers into targeted interventions to help reduce the burden from these infections.

Keywords

hepatitis B virus, HBV;hepatitis C virus, HCV; HIV / AIDS; HAART; non-AIDS outcomes (lung, liver disease); drug use; epidemiology; liver cancer; biomarkers; proteomics; genetic susceptibility; ALIVE study; The Gambia; Uganda;

Honors and Awards

1994-1997, American Cancer Society, Physician Training Award in Preventive Medicine

1995, Delta Omega National Public Health Honor Society

1996, AMA Glaxo-Wellcome Resident Leadership Award for Outstanding Community Service

1997, Fellowship for Research Training in Cancer, International Agency for Research on Cancer

1998, Visiting Scientist, International Agency for Research on Cancer

2002, American Society of Microbiology, George McCracken Infectious Disease Fellow Award

2002, NIH Fellow’s Award for Research Excellence

2003, Phi Beta Kappa, JHBSPH

Selected Publications

Selected Recent Publications

Stabinski L†, Reynolds S, Ocama P, Laeyendecker O, Ndyanabo A, Kiggundu V, Boaz I, Gray RH, Wawer M, Thio CL, Thomas DL, Quinn TC, Kirk GD.  High prevalence of liver fibrosis associated with HIV infection: A study in rural Rakai, Uganda. Antiviral Therapy, 2011 (In Press)

Stabinski L†, Reynolds S, Ocama P, Laeyendecker O, Serwadda D, Gray RH, Wawer M, Thomas DL, Quinn TC, Kirk GD.  Hepatitis B virus and sexual behaviour in Rakai, Uganda. J Med Virol, 2011 (In Press)

Kirk GD, Merlo C. HIV infection in the etiology of lung cancer: Confounding, causality and consequences. Proc Am Thoracic Soc, 2011 (In Press).

Genberg B, Gange S, Go V, Celentano D, Kirk GD, Mehta SH. Trajectories of injection drug use over 20 years (1988-2008) in Baltimore, Maryland. Am J Epi, 2011 (In Press).

Howe CJ, SR Cole, Ostrow D, Mehta SH, Kirk GD. A prospective study of alcohol consumption and HIV acquisition among injection drug users. AIDS, 2011; 25:221-228.

Umoh NJ†, Lesi OA, Mendy M, Bah E, Akano A, Whittle H, Hainaut P, Kirk GD.  Aetiological differences in demographic, clinical and pathological characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma in The Gambia. Liver Intl, 2011; 31: 215-21.

Marshall MM, Kirk GD, Caporaso NE, McCormack MC, Merlo CA, Hague JC, Mehta SH, Engels EA. Tobacco use and nicotine dependence among HIV-infected and uninfected injection drug users. AIDS Educ Prev, 2011; 36: 61-7.

Mehta SH, Kirk GD, Astemborski J, Galai N, Celentano D. Temporal trends in HAART initiation among injection drug users in Baltimore, MD, 1996-2008. Clin Infect Dis, 2010; 50: 1664-1671.

Drummond MB, Kirk GD, McCormack MC, Marshall MM, Ricketts EP, Mehta SH, Wise RA, Merlo CM. HIV and COPD: Impact of risk behaviors and diseases on quality of life. Qual Life Res, 2010; 9:1295-1302.

Drummond MB, Kirk GD, Ricketts EP, McCormack MC, Hague JC, McDyer JF, Mehta SH, Engels EA, Wise RA, Merlo CM. Cross-sectional analysis of respiratory symptoms in an injection drug user cohort: The impact of obstructive lung disease and HIV. BMC Pulm Med, 2010; 10:27.  

Shiels MS†, Cole SR, Mehta SH, Kirk GD.  Lung cancer incidence and mortality among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected injection drug users. JAIDS, 2010; 55: 510-5.

Mendy M, Welzel T, Lesi OA, Hainaut P, Hall AJ, Kuniholm MH†, MacConkey S, Goedert JJ, Kaye S, Rowland-Jones S, Whittle H, Kirk GD. Hepatitis B viral load and risk for liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in The Gambia, West Africa. J Viral Hepatitis, 2010; 17:115-22.

Ocama P, Nambooze S, Opio CK, Shiels MS, Wabinga HR, Kirk GD.  Trends in the incidence of primary liver cancer in Central Uganda, 1960-1980 and 1991-2005.  Br J Cancer, 2009; 100:799-802.

Kavasery R, Galai N, Astemborski J, Lucas GM, Celentano D, Kirk GD, Mehta SH. Non-structured HIV treatment interruptions among injection drug users in Baltimore, MD. JAIDS, 2009; 50: 360-6.

Kirk GD, Astemborski J, Mehta SH, Spoler C, Fisher C, Allen D, Higgins Y, Moore R, Afdhal N, Torbenson M, Sulkowski M, Thomas DL. Assessment of liver fibrosis by transient elastography in persons with HCV or HIV/HCV coinfection. Clin Infect Dis, 2009; 48: 963-72.

Marshall M, McCormack M, Kirk GD. Effect of cigarette smoking on HIV acquisition, progression, and mortality. AIDS Educ Prev, 2009; 21 (3 Suppl): 28-39.

Shiels MS, Cole SR, Kirk GD, Poole C. A meta-analysis of the incidence of non-AIDS cancers in HIV-infected individuals. JAIDS, 2009 52(5):611-22.

The North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on Research and Design. Effect of early versus deferred antiretroviral therapy for HIV on survival. N Engl J Med, 2009; 360:1815-26.

Selected Prior Publications

Kuniholm MH, Lesi OA, Mendy M, Akano OA, Sam O, Hall AJ, Whittle H, Bah E, Goedert JJ, Hainaut P, Montesano R, Kirk GD. Aflatoxin exposure and viral hepatitis in the etiology of cirrhosis in The Gambia, West Africa. Env Health Perspect, 2008; 116: 1553-7.

Vlahov D, O’Driscoll P, Mehta SH, Ompad D, Gern N, Galai N, Kirk GD. Risk factors for methadone outside treatment programs: implications for HIV treatment among injection drug users. Addiction, 2007; 102: 771-7.

Kirk GD, Merlo C, Driscoll P, Mehta S, Galai N, Vlahov D, Samet J, Engels E. HIV infection is associated with an increased risk for lung cancer independent of smoking. Clin Infect Dis, 2007; 45: 377-80.

Kirk GD, Vlahov D. Improving survival among HIV-infected injection drug users: How should we define success? Clin Infect Dis, 2007; 45: 377-80.

Kirk GD, Bah E, Montesano R. Molecular epidemiology of human liver cancer: etiology, pathogenesis and prevention in The Gambia, West Africa. Carcinogenesis, 2006; 27: 2070-82.

Kirk GD, Lesi OA, Mendy M, Whittle H, Goedert JJ, Hainaut P, Montesano R. 249ser TP53 mutation in plasma DNA, hepatitis B virus infection, and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncogene, 2005; 24: 5858-67.

Kirk GD, Lesi OA, Mendy M, Akano OA, Sam O, Goedert JJ, Hainaut P, Whittle H, Montesano R. The Gambia Liver Cancer Study: Infection with hepatitis B and C and the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma in West Africa. Hepatology, 2004; 39: 211-9.

Kirk GD, Camus-Randon AM, Mendy M, Goedert JJ, Merle P, Trepo C, Brechot C, Hainaut P, Montesano R.  Ser-249 p53 mutations in plasma DNA of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma from The Gambia. J Natl Cancer Institute, 2000: 92: 148-53.