Rachel M. Presti, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Additional Titles
- Principal Investigator, NIH - AIDS Clinical Trials Unit at Washington University School of Medicine
Related Links
Patients seen at
620 South Taylor Ave., Suite 100
St. Louis, MO 63110
Education
- BA: Scripps College, Claremont, CA (1994)
- Medical Degree: Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO (2001)
- PhD: Washington University, St. Louis, MO (2001)
- Residency: Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO (2003)
- Fellowship, Infectious Diseases: Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO (2006)
Clinical Interests
Infectious diseases, HIV.
Research Interests
Dr. Presti is interested in understanding how emerging viruses contribute to the pathogenesis of HIV disease. The HIV epidemic has evolved significantly in the 27 years since the virus was first discovered. Current therapy with highly active antiretroviral agents (HAART) has allowed us to prolong the life and improve the immune competence of patients living with HIV. However, we still have few therapeutic options for treating other viral pathogens, and because of difficulty culturing viruses, it is likely that there are numerous as yet unknown human viruses which cause disease. Emerging viruses have become increasingly important in patients who are HIV infected.
My research interests include identifying and characterizing the microbiome/virome in the pathogenesis of HIV infection. My clinical interests include improving the care of HIV infected patients who are coinfected with emerging viruses. Patients living with HIV who are coinfected with hepatitis C or human papilloma virus continue to have increased morbidity and mortality. Current therapies for HCV and HPV are imperfect, and not consistently applied in standard clinical care. We aim to methodically develop clinical care plans to improve the treatment and outcomes of HIV infected patients coinfected with these emerging viruses.