Tran Viet Ha, MD, MSc, PhD | Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases

Tran Viet Ha, MD, MSc, PhD

In-country Director, UNC Project-Vietnam

CRS Coordinator, Vietnam

Assistant Professor, Department of Health Behavior, Gillings

Contact Information

Vietha@live.unc.edu

Appointments :

100-000-0000

Resources

Publications

Tran Viet Ha, MD, MSc, PhD

In-country Director, UNC Project-Vietnam

CRS Coordinator, Vietnam

Assistant Professor, Department of Health Behavior, Gillings

Areas of Interest

Clinical Trials in Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS Prevention Intervention, Mental Health Intervention

About

Since 2005, Dr Tran Viet Ha has been at the forefront of HIV research in Vietnam, collaborating with Dr. Vivian Go and other esteemed colleagues on numerous NIH-funded randomized controlled trials (RCTs). These studies have focused on developing effective HIV prevention and treatment strategies for key populations, particularly people who inject drugs (PWID). Her extensive expertise in epidemiology, biostatistics, and internal medicine has been instrumental in leading these complex, multi-site studies. Notable projects include the HPTN 074 and HPTN 083 studies, which evaluated the effectiveness of treatment as prevention and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among PWID, respectively. Beyond HIV prevention, she has also contributed to research focused on improving the mental health and HIV care engagement of people living with HIV who inject drugs. In recent years, Dr. Tran Viet Ha has expanded my research focus to include hepatitis B and tuberculosis. In 2022, she initiated clinical trials as part of the AIDS Clinical Trials Groups (ACTG), specifically the A5379 study, which aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Heplisaw-B in enhancing HBV vaccination among people living with HIV. In 2023, she embarked on clinical trials related to tuberculosis, participating in the PHOENIx study, which investigates strategies to protect households exposed to newly diagnosed index multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients. Throughout her involvement in these ACTG clinical trials, she has consistently played the critical roles of Investigator of Record and Coordinator of Clinical Research Sites. These responsibilities have allowed her to contribute significantly to the design, implementation, and oversight of high-quality clinical trials that adhere to the rigorous standards set by the Division of AIDS (DAIDS).

In the news

Adapted ‘Friendship Bench’ Counseling Intervention Improves Mental Health and HIV Care Engagement Outcomes

Mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and stress-related illnesses are ubiquitous, but their prevalence is notably high in Vietnam among people with HIV (PWH) who inject drugs. Studies indicate depression rates can range from 25% to 44%, amplifying HIV transmission and increasing negative outcomes. In response to a high burden of mental disorders globally … Read more
UNC Project-Vietnam Receives Friendship Award

The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations recently recognized UNC for significant contributions to the sustainable development of Vietnam. This is the second year in a row that UNC has received this award. UNC Project-Vietnam’s Director Tran Viet Ha, MD, MSc, accepted the award on December 26, 2023. The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations is a … Read more
I AM IGHID: Tran Viet Ha, MD, MSc

Tran Viet Ha, MD, MSc, is the in-country director of UNC Vietnam and an assistant professor in the Gillings School of Global Public Health. She’s also coordinator for the Institute’s Clinical Research Site (CRS) in Hanoi. The CRS started as a site for HIV prevention studies but has more recently been funded as a HIV … Read more
UNC Vietnam Receives Award For Contributions to the Welfare of Vietnam People

“We indeed made history,” said Tran Viet Ha, MD, MSc. “UNC Vietnam is one of 30 foreign organizations among nearly 500 foreign organizations in Vietnam honored to be awarded certificates of merit by the president of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, recognizing our significant contributions to the economic development, social security and welfare of … Read more