Judith S. Currier MED ’85
Career Achievement

Professor of Medicine and Executive Vice Chair for Research, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA); Co-Director, Center for Clinical AIDS Research and Education (CARE) at UCLA

 

 

Judith S. Currier, MD, MSc, is an internationally renowned expert in infectious diseases, focusing on HIV therapeutics. Her career spans over 25 years, marked by a commitment to clinical care, research, and education in HIV/AIDS. She is currently a professor of medicine and executive vice chair for research in the Department of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and co-director of the Center for Clinical AIDS Research and Education (CARE) at UCLA. From 2010 to 2023, she served as chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at UCLA.

Currier’s research has significantly advanced the understanding and management of HIV. Her groundbreaking studies include investigating the high rate of cardiovascular disease in people with HIV and interventions to mitigate this risk, such as using statins. She has also contributed to understanding the pathogenesis and management of long-term complications of HIV, particularly metabolic issues associated with treatment.

A key innovation in Currier’s work is her focus on gender-related issues in HIV therapy. She has led studies on HIV treatment and long-term outcomes in women, addressing a critical gap in the field and tailoring care to women’s unique needs.

Her leadership extends nationally as chair of the NIH-sponsored AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG), a global network evaluating HIV therapeutics. Currier’s influence reaches beyond the U.S. through global health initiatives, collaborating with Partners in Hope in Malawi on USAID- and PEPFAR-funded projects to enhance HIV care in resource-limited settings.

A passionate educator and mentor, Currier has received numerous accolades for her contributions to medical education, including the HIVMA Clinical Educator Award, the Constance B. Wofsy Women’s Health Investigator Award, and the inaugural Alan M. Fogelman Mentorship Award at UCLA. Her ongoing research and clinical work continue to shape HIV medicine and improve outcomes for people living with HIV worldwide.

 

Return to Alumni Awards Homepage