Dr. Balkus is an infectious disease epidemiologist whose research focuses on questions that interface between the vaginal microbiome and HIV/STI prevention. She is the Associate Director of the Microbicide Trials Network Statistical and Data Management Center, an NIH-supported research network that focuses on reducing sexual transmission of HIV through the development and evaluation antiretroviral-based microbicides. Dr. Balkus is also a member of the Kenya Research and Training Center at the University of Washington, where she conducts research related to assessing the impact of the vaginal microbiome on adverse reproductive health outcomes in women.

Research Interests

• Vaginal microbiome
• STI prevention
• HIV risk prediction
• Hormonal contraception
• Women
• Africa

Teaching Interests

Dr. Balkus currently co-teaches a new undergraduate course EPI 360 "Exploring the HIV/AIDS Pandemic" offered during Winter Quarter.

Publications

• Pubmed

In The News

A year into the pandemic, shame still doesn’t work
Vox, 01/27/2021

Release of 'Tenet' marks major test for movie industry in COVID-19 era
NBC News, 09/05/2020

No #StudentBan: International students belong in the US
The Seattle Times, 07/13/2020