Principal Investigators

Dr. Shirish Barve is dually appointed as Chief Research Scientist at the Norton Neurology Institute, a part of Norton Healthcare (NHC), and as Professor of Medicine with the UofL School of Medicine (Departments of Medicine – Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition; Pharmacology and Toxicology; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology). He serves as the Co-Principal Investigator for the SEAL Study, an NIAAA-funded study on alcohol misuse, gut microbial dysbiosis, and the PrEP care continuum (R01 AA030485). His research program has been investigating the pathogenic mechanisms underlying alcohol-induced and HIV-1 infection-induced changes in the gut microbiome, and consequent development of peripheral inflammation and organ injury. His research group has identified and characterized specific features of alcohol-induced gut dysbiosis by metagenomic sequencing analysis, relevant to the development of chronic alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Another recent research focus is HIV-1 infection-induced gut dysbiosis and its impact on gut-derived metabolites, intestinal permeability, and pathogenic changes in the gut-liver-brain axis.

Dr. Lesley Harris is an Associate Professor at the University of Louisville in the Kent School of Social Work and Family Science. She is a Co-Principal Investigator of a National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) funded study entitled, Alcohol Misuse, Gut Microbial Dysbiosis and PrEP Care Continuum: Application and Efficacy of SBIRT Intervention (R01 AA030485). Dr. Harris's research uses qualitative, arts-based, and community-engaged methods to improve intervention strategies in partnership with populations disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, including persons with limited access to healthcare and substance use disorder treatment.

Dr. Jelani Kerr is an Associate Professor at the University of Louisville School of Public Health and Information Sciences.  He is a a Co-Principal Investigator of a National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) funded study entitled, Alcohol Misuse, Gut Microbial Dysbiosis and PrEP Care Continuum: Application and Efficacy of SBIRT Intervention (R01 AA030485).  Dr. Kerr’s research focuses on identifying and addressing factors that increase HIV vulnerability for African Americans.  This is typically done using community-engaged research methods.

Dr. Martin Hall is a Professor at the University of Louisville in the Kent School of Social Work and Family Science. His work is focused on understanding substance use and developing and evaluating effective interventions for people who need them. In addition to epidemiological work on co-occurring substance use and child maltreatment, he serves as evaluator for Kentucky’s Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Teams (START), an intervention for families who enter the child welfare system due to problematic substance use. Previous studies have shown that children in families served by START are less likely to be placed in state custody compared to children in families receiving usual child welfare services.