Aspro Thesla Palanee-Phillips

Thesla Palanee-Phillips is a public health researcher whose work centers on HIV prevention, sexual and reproductive health, and women’s health in sub-Saharan Africa. Her scholarship integrates epidemiology, behavioral science, and advanced statistical methods to strengthen the evidence base for biomedical HIV prevention, particularly for women and marginalized populations in high-burden settings.

Her publications highlight major contributions to the evaluation of the dapivirine vaginal ring and other pre-exposure prophylaxis modalities. Through causal inference methods, per-sex-act risk analyses, and modeling of efficacy dilution, she has clarified how adherence, sexual behavior, and heterogeneity in risk shape trial outcomes. This work has informed interpretation of landmark HIV prevention trials and guided future study design.

Palanee-Phillips also examines product acceptability, gender norms, and user preferences, including long-acting PrEP, dual prevention pills, and cervical cancer screening strategies in HIV-endemic regions. By combining qualitative insights with modeling and cost-effectiveness analyses, her research advances patient-centered prevention options and supports policy decisions aimed at reducing HIV and related health inequities.