UAlbany Professor Receives $1.4 Million Grant Towards HIV Prevention for Black Cisgender Women

By Nina Faupel | April 7, 2025

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Professor Melonie Walcott, an assistant professor in the Department of Health Policy, Management, and Behavior at the University at Albany, has been awarded a $1.4 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to lead a four-year research project aimed at enhancing HIV prevention efforts for Black cisgender women across New York State.

Through efforts like Professor Walcott’s study, the CDC aims to support the federal "Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S." initiative, which seeks to reduce new HIV infections in the U.S. by 90 percent by 2030. 

"CDC collaborates with communities, states, and national leaders to prevent HIV and improve health outcomes for those with higher chances of getting HIV," said a CDC spokesperson.

Professor Walcott’s study will directly contribute to these efforts by focusing on a community that has been disproportionately affected by HIV. Black cisgender women in New York State, in particular, face significant barriers to HIV prevention, making this project an essential part of reducing those inequities.

In August, according to the CDC, it awarded approximately $400 million to 59 health departments to support high-impact HIV prevention and surveillance programs across the U.S. The agency also funds community-based organizations to complement the work of health departments, giving local leaders the flexibility to implement HIV prevention strategies tailored to their communities’ unique needs.

Regarding the current status of the project, with uncertainties surrounding grant funding, Professor Walcott and her team have temporarily paused all communications regarding this grant.