Dr. Ann Duerr

Dr. Ann Duerr began her educational career focusing on biological laboratory sciences and obtained her B.Sc. from the Department of Biochemistry at McGill University and her Ph.D. from the Department of Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She combined this background in laboratory science with her medical degree from Harvard and M.P.H. from Johns Hopkins University. This combined knowledge has played a major role in Dr. Ann Duerr's research.

HIV Infection in Women and Children

While at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Ann Duerr lead a study of vertical transmission of HIV in Rwanda  researching the transmission of HIV through the placenta from mother to child. When she began her career with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it focused on HIV infection and HIV prevention in women. Her team developed the Breastfeeding, Antiretrovirals and Nutrition Study, testing two methods for reduction of HIV transmission from women to their infants.

Dr. Ann Duerr Changes Focus With HVTN

When she became an Associate Director with HIV Vaccine Trials Network, Dr. Ann Duerr's work focused more on the safety and efficacy of vaccines and the delivery methods for HIV vaccines. The network is the largest clinical testing network in the world having more than 27 sites globally. Her work with HVTN has helped provide valuable insight into HIV vaccine research. Dr. Ann Duerr's education and experience has played an important role in the fight against the spread of HIV.