Darrell Tan

MD, FRCPC, PhD

Scientist

Biography

Dr. Darrell Tan is an infectious diseases physician, clinician-scientist and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) New Investigator whose research focuses on clinical trials in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention and HIV/sexual transmitted infection (STI) co-infection. As Director of the University of Toronto Clinical Research Unit on HIV Prevention and co-leader of the CIHR Canadian HIV Trials Network Biomedical Prevention Working Group, he is leading multiple efforts to optimize the implementation of HIV pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP) in Canada. These include Canada’s first demonstration project of daily oral TDF/FTC-based PrEP in Toronto MSM, the development of national Clinical Practice Guidelines on PEP & PrEP use, exploration of the relationship between syndemic health problems and clinical outcomes of PEP & PrEP, studies of nurse-led PEP & PrEP, and evaluations of novel antiretroviral PEP regimens.

Additional research interests are in the interaction between HIV and common co-infections such as herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and syphilis, and the role of systemic inflammation in driving clinical outcomes in people living with HIV. He is also Co-Principle Investigator on two CIHR-supported multicentre randomized control trials including the a trial of anti-herpes medication for attenuating HIV disease progression, and a trial of enhanced syphilis screening in HIV-positive men.

Recent Publications

  1. Sachdeva, H, Shahin, R, Ota, S, Isabel, S, Mangat, CS, Stuart, R et al.. Preparing for mpox resurgence: Surveillance lessons from outbreaks in Toronto, Canada. J Infect Dis. 2023; :. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiad533. PubMed PMID:38035826 .
  2. Clifford Rashotte, M, Yoong, D, Naccarato, M, Pico Espinosa, OJ, Fisher, K, Bogoch, II et al.. Appropriate usage of post-exposure prophylaxis-in-pocket for HIV prevention by individuals with low-frequency exposures. Int J STD AIDS. 2023; :9564624231215151. doi: 10.1177/09564624231215151. PubMed PMID:37963270 .
  3. Billick, MJ, Fisher, KN, Myers, S, Tan, DHS, Bogoch, II. Brief Report: Outcomes of Individuals Using HIV Postexposure Prophylaxis-In-Pocket ("PIP") for Low-Frequency, High-Risk Exposures in Toronto, Canada. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2023;94 (3):211-213. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000003282. PubMed PMID:37850980 .
  4. Kirschbaum, AL, Metheny, N, Skakoon-Sparling, S, Grace, D, Yakubovich, AR, Cox, J et al.. Syndemic Factors and Lifetime Bidirectional Intimate Partner Violence Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Sexual Minority Men. LGBT Health. 2023;10 (S1):S89-S97. doi: 10.1089/lgbt.2023.0117. PubMed PMID:37754925 .
  5. Leonard, S, Sotindjo, T, Brophy, J, Tan, DHS, Nashid, N. HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis: It is time to consider harm reduction care for adolescents in Canada. Paediatr Child Health. 2023;28 (6):338-343. doi: 10.1093/pch/pxac115. PubMed PMID:37744752 PubMed Central PMC10517249.
  6. Costiniuk, CT, Singer, J, Lee, T, Galipeau, Y, McCluskie, PS, Arnold, C et al.. Antibody neutralization capacity after coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination in people with HIV in Canada. AIDS. 2023;37 (12):F25-F35. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000003680. PubMed PMID:37534695 PubMed Central PMC10481923.
  7. Yeung, A, Lisk, R, Rana, J, Guiang, CB, Bacon, J, Brunetta, J et al.. Community and Health Care Provider Preferences for Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing Interventions for Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men: e-Delphi Study. J Med Internet Res. 2023;25 :e40477. doi: 10.2196/40477. PubMed PMID:37384393 PubMed Central PMC10365575.
  8. Pico-Espinosa, OJ, Hull, M, MacPherson, P, Grace, D, Lachowsky, N, Gaspar, M et al.. Reasons for not using pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV and strategies that may facilitate uptake in Ontario and British Columbia among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men: a cross-sectional survey. CMAJ Open. 2023;11 (3):E560-E568. doi: 10.9778/cmajo.20220113. PubMed PMID:37369522 PubMed Central PMC10310342.
  9. Daroya, E, Grey, C, Klassen, B, Lessard, D, Skakoon-Sparling, S, Perez-Brumer, A et al.. 'It's not as good as the face-to-face contact': A sociomaterialist analysis of the use of virtual care among Canadian gay, bisexual and queer men during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sociol Health Illn. 2023; :. doi: 10.1111/1467-9566.13686. PubMed PMID:37323054 .
  10. DeKoven, S, Naccarato, M, Brumme, CJ, Tan, DHS. Treatment-emergent reverse transcriptase resistance during antiretroviral therapy with bictegravir, tenofovir alafenamide, and emtricitabine: A case series. HIV Med. 2023;24 (11):1137-1143. doi: 10.1111/hiv.13520. PubMed PMID:37317505 .
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Affiliations & Other Activities

  • Clinician-Scientist, Department of Medicine, St. Michael’s Hospital
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto
  • Assistant Professor, Institute of Health Policy, Management & Evaluation, University of Toronto
  • Director, HIV Prevention Clinical Research Unit, University of Toronto
  • Affiliate Scientist, Toronto General Research Institute