Biography
Matt is a Clinical-Epidemiologic Investigator at MHRP where he contributes to the scientific oversight and direction of epidemiologic studies and clinical trials in HIV, sexually transmitted infections, and other infectious diseases. He is an associate investigator for the African Cohort Study (AFRICOS) in Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda and the Multinational Observational Cohort of HIV and other Infections (MOCHI) in Kenya, Uganda, and The Philippines. He conducts research on HIV testing, prevention, treatment, and cure, and frequently leverages implementation science methodologies and frameworks.
Matt is a registered pharmacist and doctoral-trained epidemiologist. He completed his PhD in epidemiology under the mentorship of Professor Denis Nash (Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy & Institute for Implementation Science in Population Health, City University of New York) and did his dissertation research in collaboration with the International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) research consortium. At the City University of New York, Matt also worked as a project director for implementation science studies on HIV self-testing in Kenya with the North Star Alliance and completed a practicum on cross-border population health research at El Colegio de la Frontera Norte in Tijuana, Mexico. Outside of HIV, Matt has worked with Latin American investigators for several years on research to inform the diagnosis and treatment of neurocysticercosis, a neglected parasitic disease of the central nervous system. Prior to his doctoral studies, he lived in Ecuador and worked at the University of Cuenca on research related to noncommunicable disease risk behaviors among children and adolescents. Matt previously had a long-standing relationship with the New York City Health Department, collaborating on disease surveillance and health equity initiatives.
Matt is passionate about training and mentorship in epidemiology and public health and previously held teaching positions at The University of Hong Kong Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine and City University of New York. He was born in Tucson, Arizona and is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Publications
Romo ML, Moreland SC, Yates AM, Crowell TA, Sevilla M, MacArthur JL, Faestel P, Kunz A, Ake JA, Calvano T, Colby DJ. Prevalence of urogenital Mycoplasma genitalium infection at two US Army medical facilities. Sex Transm Dis. 2024 Feb 12. doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001947. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38346403.
Homo RL, Colby DJ, Romo ML, Moreland S, Follen H, Hernandez B, Robinson D, Liesemer K, Paudel M, Crowell TA, Martin A, Armendi IF, Martinez-Bucki E, Bay J, Faestel P, Sainato R. COVID-19 mRNA vaccination and myocarditis/pericarditis in the setting of active surveillance at a military treatment facility. BMJ Mil Health. 2023 Nov 16:e002599. doi: 10.1136/military-2023-002599. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37973371.
Romo ML, Esber AL, Owuoth J, Maswai J, Sing'oei V, Iroezindu M, Bahemana E, Kibuuka H, Cavanaugh JS, Shah N, Ake JA, Crowell TA; AFRICOS Study Group. Impact of weight gain with dolutegravir on antiretroviral adherence and viral suppression in four African countries. HIV Med. 2023 Oct;24(10):1066-1074. doi: 10.1111/hiv.13501. Epub 2023 May 25. PMID: 37232057.
Romo ML, Brazier E, Mahambou-Nsondé D, De Waal R, Sekaggya-Wiltshire C, Chimbetete C, Muyindike WR, Murenzi G, Kunzekwenyika C, Tiendrebeogo T, Muhairwe JA, Lelo P, Dzudie A, Twizere C, Rafael I, Ezechi OC, Diero L, Yotebieng M, Fenner L, Wools-Kaloustian KK, Shah NS, Nash D; International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA). Real-world use and outcomes of dolutegravir-containing antiretroviral therapy in HIV and tuberculosis co-infection: a site survey and cohort study in sub-Saharan Africa. J Int AIDS Soc. 2022 Jul;25(7):e25961. doi: 10.1002/jia2.25961. PMID: 35848120; PMCID: PMC9289708.
Romo ML, Edwards JK, Semeere AS, Musick BS, Urassa M, Odhiambo F, Diero L, Kasozi C, Murenzi G, Lelo P, Wyka K, Kelvin EA, Sohn AH, Wools-Kaloustian KK, Nash D; International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA). Viral Load Status Before Switching to Dolutegravir-Containing Antiretroviral Therapy and Associations With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Treatment Outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa. Clin Infect Dis. 2022 Sep 10;75(4):630-637. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciab1006. PMID: 34893813; PMCID: PMC9464076.
Romo ML, Patel RC, Edwards JK, Humphrey JM, Musick BS, Bernard C, Maina MW, Brazier E, Castelnuovo B, Penner J, Wyka K, Cardoso SW, Ly PS, Kunzekwenyika C, Cortés CP, Panczak R, Kelvin EA, Wools-Kaloustian KK, Nash D; International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA). Disparities in Dolutegravir Uptake Affecting Females of Reproductive Age With HIV in Low- and Middle-Income Countries After Initial Concerns About Teratogenicity : An Observational Study. Ann Intern Med. 2022 Jan;175(1):84-94. doi: 10.7326/M21-3037. Epub 2021 Nov 30. PMID: 34843382; PMCID: PMC8808594.
Romo ML, George G, Mantell JE, Mwai E, Nyaga E, Odhiambo JO, Govender K, Kelvin EA. Psychosocial characteristics of primary care-seeking long-distance truck drivers in Kenya and associations with HIV testing. Afr J AIDS Res. 2018 Jul;17(2):119-128. doi: 10.2989/16085906.2018.1449760. Epub 2018 Apr 24. PMID: 29690829; PMCID: PMC6085082.
Romo ML, Abril-Ulloa V. Improving Nutrition Habits and Reducing Sedentary Time Among Preschool-Aged Children in Cuenca, Ecuador: A Trial of a School-Based Intervention. Prev Chronic Dis. 2018 Jul 26;15:E96. doi: 10.5888/pcd15.180053. PMID: 30048234; PMCID: PMC6093264.
Romo ML, Chan PY, Lurie-Moroni E, Perlman SE, Newton-Dame R, Thorpe LE, McVeigh KH. Characterizing Adults Receiving Primary Medical Care in New York City: Implications for Using Electronic Health Records for Chronic Disease Surveillance. Prev Chronic Dis. 2016 Apr 28;13:E56. doi: 10.5888/pcd13.150500. PMID: 27126554; PMCID: PMC4856483.
Romo ML, Wyka K, Carpio A, Leslie D, Andrews H, Bagiella E, Hauser WA, Kelvin EA; Ecuadorian Neurocysticercosis Group. The effect of albendazole treatment on seizure outcomes in patients with symptomatic neurocysticercosis. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2015 Nov;109(11):738-46. doi: 10.1093/trstmh/trv078. Epub 2015 Oct 3. PMID: 26433183.
Full list of publications: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/matthew.romo.2/bibliography/public/