Ha Xuan Huy MD PhD – Vice Director
Dr. Huy Ha worked as a physician in the Gastrointestinal Surgery Department at Thai Nguyen Hospital in Vietnam for one year. He holds both an MPH and a DrPH degree in Behavioral Sciences and Epidemiology, with a focus on infectious diseases, from University of Texas at Houston Health Science Center USA. He serves as a clinical research coordinator and study physician for R2D2 study and DRAMATIC clinical trial. Dr. Ha has over 20 years of experience conducting more than 20 studies and intervention projects/program on various health topics with a primary focus on infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, TB & HIV co-infection, Hepatitis, and Avian Influenza. He has worked in different capacities, including as Principal Investigator (PI), Co-PI, Co-I, Program/Project Manager, Research Consultant, and Research Coordinator on various health projects/research funded by different funding agencies, including Global Health, National Institute of Health US (NIH), UN Trust Fund, Bill & Melinda Gate Foundation, Population Council, UNICEF, Ipas, and World Bank, Grand Challenge Canada and Safe Abortion Action Fund (SAAF). In addition, Dr. Ha has extensive experience and advanced knowledge in M&E and research design, program planning, data analyses, having received training in these areas.
Education
MD – Thai Nguyen Medical University – 1995
MPH – University of Texas at Houston Health Science Center – 2003
DrPH – University of Texas at Houston Health Science Center – 2012
Research Interests
HIV/AIDS
Tuberculosis
Maternal and Child Health
Nutrition
Gender
Behavioral Change Communication
Selected Research Projects
Rapid Research for Diagnostics Development in TB Network (R2D2 TB Network) (2020-2025). Sponsor: NIH. Role: Senior Coordinator
DRAMATIC Phase 2 Duration Randomized MDR-TB Treatment Trial (2020-2025). Sponsor: NIAID- NIH. Role: Senior Coordinator.
Improving the efficiency of clinic-based active tuberculosis case finding: evaluation of point-of-care C-reactive protein-based triage testing in Vietnam. (2021-2024). Sponsor:
NIH. Role: Study Coordinator.
Making Cough Count in Tuberculosis Care: Development of Digital Cough Monitoring and Artificial Intelligence Therapeutic Monitoring Tools
Sponsor: Patrick J. McGovern Foundation (2021-2023); Role: Co-PI
E-BabyCare – A virtual platform of care for preterm babies after discharge from neonatal intensive care units in Vietnam, (2018-2020). Sponsor: Grand Challenges Canada (GCC). Role: Co-PI
Global Fund Supported Project on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control (2019-2020). Sponsor: Global Fund. Role: Project Director
The project goal is to strengthen the participation of social and community-based organizations (CBO) in HIV/AIDS control and prevention, contributing to the implementation of targets 95-95-95 by 2025 and ending AIDS epidemic by 2030.
“Song vui, Live happily”: A psychosocial tele-health intervention to address multi-level stigma among youth living with HIV in Vietnam. (2019-2020). Sponsor: NIH. Role: Coordinator .
The study aims to adapt a psychosocial stigma-reduction intervention for YLHIV in Vietnam using the cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) Principals; assess the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of this innovative approach to reduce stigma, and improve psychosocial wellbeing and ART adherence; and explore the multiple facets of stigma experienced by YLHIV in Vietnam.
M-PostAbortionCare: A Web-Apps based Post-Abortion Counseling Intervention in Vietnam (2018-2020). Sponsor: Safe Abortion Action Fund (SAAF). Role: PI
Study aims to reduce Internalized Abortion Stigma (IAS) and its impacts and decrease repeated post-abortion unwanted pregnancy (RAP) among young unmarried and post-abortion women, through a post-abortion web-apps counseling intervention (PAWBI).
A pilot web-based post-abortion counseling intervention in Vietnam (2017-2018). Sponsor: Inroads. Role: PI.
This is phase I of a two phase project that aims to develop and test the feasibility and acceptability of a web-based counseling program designed to address abortion stigma among unmarried women in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam. ‘Proof-of-concept’ evidence will guide the development of the subsequent phase.
Health Facility based Counseling and Home Visits to Prevent Intimate Partner Violence Against Pregnant and Lactating Women in Vietnam (2016-2018). Sponsor: UN-Trust Fund. Role: PI.
The aim of this project is to enhance the safety, health, and overall wellbeing of pregnant and lactating women in Kien Xuong district, Thai Binh province by reducing the prevalence and severity of physical, emotional and sexual intimate partner violence (IPV).
Abortion Stigma in Vietnam: Manifestation and Impacts (2017-2018). Sponsor: Ipas. Role: PI
The purpose of the study was to explore the impact of abortion stigma on unmarried young women who have had an abortion or are seeking to have one as well as the quality of services they have received.
Assessment of Child Survival and Humanitarian C4D Initiatives and Support Needs in East Asia and Pacific (2015). Sponsor: UNICEF Headquarter. Role: National Researcher
The purposes of the study were to 1) identify effective and integrated C4D approaches for improved health, hygiene, nutrition and protective and caring practice; and 2) identify technical support needs of the UNICEF country office towards a more cross-sectoral approach. The study was implemented in 14 countries.
National Survey on Maternal and Infant Mortality in 7 Northern Provinces, Viet Nam (2015). Sponsor: World Bank. Role: Consulting Researcher
The purpose of the study was to evaluate maternal and infant mortality in 7 Northern provinces of Vietnam. Mix methods were employed, reviewing 106,930 patient profiles, interviewing with 2630 family members, facilitating 120 in-depth interviews.
Final assessment of impact and cost-effectiveness of Infection Control Project in 3 provinces in Vietnam (2012). Sponsor: USAID through Abt Associates. Role: Co-PI
The project aims to (1) estimate the benefits of infection control (IC) activities implemented under the Avian and Pandemic Influenza Initiative (APII), and (2) use the costs of IC to determine the cost effectiveness of IC activities.
Improved Access, Equity and Utilization of Commune Health Center Service, in particular by Women from Poor, Ethnic Minorities and Remote Areas in Thai Nguyen Province, Vietnam (2011-2012). Sponsor: population Council, New York. Role: Counselling Researcher
Study aims to assess impact of computerized HMIS, explore healthcare access among poor and ethnic minorities, compare reproductive health services in public vs private sectors, and analyze quality of primary care for hypertension and diarrhea
Baseline survey of the project: Reduction of Mortality and Morbidity Rates among Ethnic Mothers and Children in Vietnam (2011). Sponsor: Atlantic Philanthropies.
Role: Lead Researcher
The purpose of the study is to collect baseline data for the community-based intervention in order to reduce mortality and morbidity rates in ethnic mother and children in four provinces in Vietnam. The study employed mixed method including cluster survey and qualitative approach with its findings to build effective intervention and as baseline data to assess the effect of the model.