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The Institute for Health Research & Policy at Whitman-Walker delivers life-changing results by conducting research studies to analyze barriers to good health and well-being, clinical trials to test state-of-the-art medications, and implementation science to advance patient-centered healthcare practices and policies.
The Institute focuses on serving people and communities facing barriers to good health and high-quality health care. These communities include:
Our work builds on Whitman-Walker Health’s 50-plus years of service to the Washington, D.C., area and beyond, including Whitman-Walker’s pioneering role as one of the first clinics in the nation to conduct community-oriented research into the experiences of people living with HIV. Over the last four decades, Whitman-Walker has helped lead clinical trials for more than 80% of currently approved antiretroviral drug therapies, resulting in life-sustaining care for people living with HIV.
Our deep ties with the communities we serve enable rigorous health science research in a caring, trusted environment. Making innovative therapies available to patients and communities and ensuring all studies have representative participant populations is a critical part of dismantling barriers to good health and health care.
From groundbreaking studies in HIV prevention to innovative cancer screenings to transformative public health research, our work directly improves health outcomes and promotes good health for all.
Our world-class, full-time researchers lead rigorous health science research that expands the boundaries of knowledge in pursuit of good health for all. Their expertise in innovative research methodologies and commitment to community engagement improves the health and well-being of communities in D.C. and nationwide.
The Institute leads health research focused on the well-being of the communities we serve. Our research work also focuses on health challenges such as:
Grounded in community-driven priorities and community-engaged partnerships, we shape research efforts that address the urgent health needs of our local Washington, D.C. community and communities across the country.
Partnering with the Institute means collaborating with a pioneering leader in health research. The Institute is committed to turning rigorous research into life-changing insights that improve health and well-being for communities locally and nationally.
Our Biomedical Research Hub is an accessible center — embedded in the communities we serve in D.C.’s Ward 8 — that provides a unique home for leading-edge clinical research in southeast D.C. The Hub is a collaborative environment where Institute researchers, community members, scientists from academic institutions, and other partners come together to create new knowledge that uplifts communities and transforms health systems.
The Institute collaborates with other community-based research organizations, academic institutions, thinktanks, biotechnology companies, healthcare providers, and government agencies.
When you work with us, your organization will:
Here’s how we move health and science forward through research.
We partner with leading organizations, including academic institutions, hospitals, FQHCs, pharmaceutical companies, and federal agencies to conduct trailblazing biomedical and public health research to improve health outcomes for all.
We work with funders and foundations to support and lead biomedical studies, public health research, and other knowledge-generation efforts that advance our ability to prevent, treat, and cure a wide range of health conditions.
We collaborate with communities to conduct patient-centered research and ensure that the participants in our studies reflect the populations we serve. The Institute’s recruitment and enrollment experts connect patients and community members with early access to innovative clinical trials and participation in novel health research opportunities in a trusted, caring environment.
Our community-focused education, outreach, and retention strategies foster study populations that advance representation in health science research and lead to improved outcomes for all.
Our clinical trials give participants access to new treatments, expert care, and an active role in their health care. By taking part in a clinical trial, you help ensure better health care in the future for yourself and your community. Join us today.
The PURPOSE-2 study, in which the Institute partnered with more than 60 sites nationally, demonstrated that twice-yearly Lenacapavir for injectable HIV prevention reduced HIV infections by 96%. This finding is guiding new clinical breakthroughs in the prevention of HIV.
The REPRIEVE study, for which the Institute served as a key member of a network of over 100 sites globally, successfully demonstrated that statin use can prevent heart disease among people living with HIV. These results have been incorporated into national clinical guidelines.
The Implementation and Navigation of Cancer Liquid Biopsy to Understand Diverse Patient Experiences (INCLUDE) study tests a new multi-cancer early detection product for many common cancers.
Whitman-Walker is a core member of the SHARE study, which is the world’s longest-running study of people living with HIV. Initially funded in 1983 by the National Institutes of Health, this study has contributed to groundbreaking scientific advances in HIV care, particularly among people aging with HIV. We are now helping lead innovations through SHARE to identify new opportunities for HIV prevention.
The Institute currently has over a dozen active research studies, including clinical trials, biomedical research, and applied public health studies. Explore the projects we’re working on and learn more about the impact we’ve created so far.
Join us in a research mission that seeks to improve health outcomes for communities and people across the lifespan.
Whether you represent an academic institution, research foundation, healthcare institution, or industry sponsor, partner with us to shape the future of public health and health care by advancing cutting-edge research that fosters good health for all.
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