MHRP's Department of Epidemiology and Threat Assessment (DETA) conducts research on the epidemiology of HIV and other infectious diseases that threaten the readiness of U.S. and allied military forces. This includes domestic and international observational studies of both military and civilian populations, with an emphasis on identifying opportunities for intervention to mitigate the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Through the Defense Health Agency Tri-Service HIV Working Group, DETA research directly informs military policies to ensure high clinical standards for HIV prevention and treatment, align clinical care policies and procedures across the military services, and harmonize administrative processes and procedures related to care of active duty Service Members at risk for or living with HIV and other STIs. International military-military and military-civilian collaborations provide similar opportunities to influence local and international guidelines for decreasing transmission, morbidity, and mortality associated with HIV and other STIs.
MHRP researchers are working with the U.S. Army Public Health Command and other military services to develop and implement HIV prevention interventions and test them as they are rolled out to ensure they are effective.