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Dr. Shapiro is a Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He has worked for over two decades in Botswana, performing clinical trials and nationwide surveillance to improve health outcomes for HIV-infected pregnant women and their children. His current research focus is to understand the relationship between antiretroviral drugs used in pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes, and to study novel diagnostic and treatment strategies for HIV-infected children.

In Botswana, Dr. Shapiro has pioneered new strategies to prevent vertical transmission of HIV, provided early data to support antiretroviral treatment strategies that were safe enough to allow breastfeeding, and evaluated risks for morbidity and mortality among HIV-exposed infants. He is currently principal investigator or co-principal investigator for research programs that perform: 1) surveillance at 18 sites in Botswana evaluating the relationship between antiretroviral therapy and adverse birth outcomes, including congenital abnormalities; 2) a multi-site study evaluating the safety, efficacy, viral reservoir reduction, and immunologic profiles following very early antiretroviral treatment initiation for HIV-infected infants; and 3) a clinical trial evaluating two broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (bNAbs) as a novel treatment strategy for HIV-infected children. He supports additional research in Botswana as the principal investigator of a Fogarty award, through a successful partnership between Harvard-affiliated hospitals and the Scottish Livingstone Hospital in Botswana, and as a research mentor bridging Boston and Botswana sites. Dr. Shapiro’s research has been used to direct health policy in Botswana and internationally, and through this work he has served as a scientific advisor to the World Health Organization for the development of guidelines for HIV prevention, antiretroviral treatment, and infant feeding.

Teaching

Dr. Shapiro is the Faculty Director of the Botswana Clinical Fellowship Program, which supports Infectious Disease fellows, residents, and students who are starting careers in international HIV. He is an active member of the Infectious Disease Division at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. In 2019, Dr. Shapiro launched a new course at HSPH entitled “Infectious Disease Outbreaks of the 20th and 21st Centuries: Strategies for Investigation and Control.”

Education

B.A., 1988, Yale University
M.D., 1993, New York University
M.P.H., 2003 Harvard School Of Public Health

POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING
1993-1996, Internship and Residency, Internal Medicine, Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, MA
1996-1998, Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Officer, Epidemic Intelligence Service, Foodborne and Diarrheal Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Atlanta, GA
1998-1999, Fellowship in Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA

Hospital Appointments

2002-to present, Attending Physician, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA

Administrative Leadership Positions

2004-2008, Associate Director for Education of the Harvard Medical School Office of International Programs

2013-2015, Associate Director, Program in International HIV Research, Harvard Center for AIDS Research

2008-to present, Research Director, Botswana-BIDMC Clinical Training and Research Program, Scottish Livingstone Hospital, Botswana

2019-present, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Botswana-Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership for HIV Research and Education

Committee Service

2005-present, World Health Organization, Member of Scientific Advisory Committees for the Creation of Guidelines to Prevent Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission (2005-present), for Feeding of HIV-exposed Infants (2009-present), and for Adult and Pediatric HIV Treatment (2013)
2014-2015, World Health Organization, Member of the Toxicity Subcommittee for   Consolidated ARV Guidelines
2009-2015, DSMB Member, PROMOTE Study
2009-present, Harvard University Center for AIDS Research Executive Committee
2011-present, BIDMC Global Health Program
2012-present, Harvard Center for AIDS Research Scientific Working Group Planning Committee            2016-present, Committee on Educational Policy (CEP), Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health