About

Dr. Hurt is very interested in understanding the structural and behavioral factors that influence the spread of HIV among men who have sex with men (MSM) – especially young MSM of color in the Southeastern US. His research in this area is split between studying HIV testing and prevention behaviors and the scale-up of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) across North Carolina. His previous work has involved sexual network investigations and the application of spatial epidemiological methods to questions about the dynamics of HIV transmission in North Carolina, as well as trying to understand in detail how young, Black MSM might utilize HIV self-testing options to increase their frequency of testing. In addition to his public health-oriented HIV research, he is interested in the epidemiology and clinical management of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. He directs the UNC ID Clinic’s HCV treatment program, helping their providers manage patients with HCV mono-infection and HIV/HCV coinfection. He also helps oversee HIV- and HCV-related clinical trials with our clinical trials unit. He also directs the North Carolina HIV Training & Education Center (NCHTEC), a federally-funded program that supports the training and technical assistance needs of providers engaged in HIV prevention and treatment across the state. The Center’s mission encompasses all aspects of HIV service delivery, from learning about the basics of the epidemic to intersectional issues that influence the ability of people to access high-quality care.

Awards and Honors

In the news

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  Champions for the HIV Workforce, Service to North Carolina

  Every community has unsung heroes, and in the HIV-care community there are many. Cassandra Durham is a fierce advocate for the HIV workforce whose dedication is reshaping what it means to care for people with HIV. A personal experience supporting a friend with HIV in the early 1990s—seeing his food tray pushed across the nursing … Read more

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  UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Awarded Ryan White C Funding Renewal

  The UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases has received a three-year renewal of award funding for the Ryan White Part C Program, from the U.S. Department of Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Natalie Hairston, MPH, MSW, UNC’s Ryan White Program Coordinator since 2023, provided critical support to the renewal process. “This continuous … Read more

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  An Intervention to Support HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Care in Rural North Carolina

  Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an important tool for reducing HIV incidence in the United States, but barriers to access, including race, sex, socioeconomic status, and geography, continue to persist. Sarah E. Rutstein, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Christopher Hurt, MD, FIDSA, Professor of Medicine, and Brian Wells Pence, PhD, Professor of Epidemiology are conducting a study to address the barriers to … Read more

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  UNC Global Clinical Trials Unit Launches HPTN 102: HIV Prevention Study for Cisgender Women

  Despite a decline in HIV incidence in women in the U.S., approximately 18% of new HIV diagnoses in 2021 were among women. Meanwhile, many cisgender women have not considered HIV PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) as an option for themselves when it comes to HIV prevention. Historically, studies of interventions to prevent sexually transmitted infections have excluded … Read more

Education