Meet the Team
Everyone on our team is committed to working toward better treatment – and ultimately a cure – for HIV/AIDS. Get to know us a bit below:
Marlene Allen, Research Associate
Marlene has been the lab manager and regulatory manager for the site since 2000.
“I have always appreciated meeting and developing relationships with our study participants.”
Marlene has been the lab manager and regulatory manager for the site since 2000. “I have always appreciated meeting and developing relationships with our study participants.”
Darius Clark, BS, MPH, Clinical Research Assistant
Darius joined the RCID research team in October of 2022. As our research assistant, he helps the team with lab processing, chart preparation, and data management. He looks forward to learning more about HIV treatments and prevention strategies.
“I am excited to be working for RCID Research and getting to know the research participants!"
Lisa Dasnoit, RN, BSN, Clinical Research Nurse II
Lisa has been with the Regional Center for Infectious Disease since 2016 as a Clinical Research Nurse II, and has eight years of HIV research experience. She coordinates and provides clinical care to research participants.
“This role is the perfect opportunity to provide support and education to those who need it most. I find the greatest satisfaction in seeing my patients taking an active role in their care.”
Kim Epperson, RN, BSN, Lead Clinical Research Coordinator
Kim is the ACTG CRS coordinator and has been a member of the Infectious Disease Research team since 2004.
“The best part of my job is the relationships I have developed with all the study participants over the years and appreciating how much they have contributed to finding a cure for HIV!”
Jenn Serrano, RN, BSN, Clinical Research Nurse
Jenn joined our Research Team in January of 2023. She graduated from UNCG in 2012 and has enjoyed working in various settings and caring for individuals from birth through adulthood.
“I am really excited to be in the Research Realm. I always enjoy learning new information and finding meaningful ways to help people incorporate that information into their everyday life.”
Kees Van Dam, MD, Principal Investigator
Dr. Van Dam earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University and his medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin. He attended the University of Utah for Internal Medicine Residency and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for his Infectious Diseases Fellowship. Board certified in both Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease, he is an Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina-AHEC. Dr. Van Dam is the Principal Investigator of all HIV clinical trials conducted at the Regional Center for Infectious Disease. A member of the Antiretroviral Therapy Transformative Science Group (TSG) of the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) and the Less-Frequent-ART-Dosing Working Group of the ARTS TSG since 2016-2020, Dr. Van Dam is particularly interested in novel treatments and novel mechanisms of delivery of antiretroviral therapy to patients.
In addition to overseeing research of the AIDS Clinical Trials Group as Site Leader, along with the HIV Prevention Trial Network Study 083, the INSIGHT Network Study Strategic Timing of Anti-Retrovirals (START) and several pharmaceutical-sponsored research endeavors, Dr. Van Dam has collaborated with Dr. Scott Rhodes, PhD, from Wake Forest University on Community-Based Research efforts such as “WeCare” and “We PrePARE.” Dr. Van Dam served on the Board of Directors for Triad Health Project, one of the oldest AIDS Service Organizations in the country. He is highly involved within the community of those living with HIV and at risk for HIV infection. In addition to his strong interest in the science of HIV treatment and prevention, he is committed to addressing the social inequities and stigma that are one of the biggest obstacles to ending the HIV epidemic.
“I am passionate about being able to empower people living with HIV to gain control of their viruses with the miraculous drugs that we are so lucky to have so that they can resume living normal lives. I’m also very passionate about social justice within HIV. Stigma is still one of the most lethal components of this virus that we can otherwise very easily control.”
