Kaku So-Armah, PhD

Associate Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

Dr. So-Armah is an epidemiologist with expertise in cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of cohort studies and use of electronic health record data for research. His lab uses molecular biology coupled with data on health behaviors, risk factors and disease diagnoses to identify and explain novel epidemiological associations and identify novel intervention targets. His research focuses on substance use and chronic infections like human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and tuberculosis (TB) and how these exposures impact the heart, liver and lungs.

His work uses data from the Russian cohort of the Uganda Russia Boston Alcohol Network Alcohol Research Collaboration on HIV/AIDS (URBAN ARCH) as well as the Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS).

His long-term goal is to translate the growing understanding of the mechanisms of excess HIV-related comorbid disease risk into effective, sustainable interventions for HIV populations bearing the brunt of the HIV epidemic.

Publications

  • Published 5/13/2025

    Haley DF, So-Armah K, Justice AC, Kidwai-Khan F, Xuan Z, Sayko Adams R, Fox MP, Edelman EJ, Wrona A, Silverberg MJ, Satre DD, Trickey A, Ingle SM, McGinnis KA. Cannabis Use Disorder Among People With and Without HIV. J Addict Med. 2025 May 13. PMID: 40358026.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 4/18/2025

    Fitzpatrick AM, Ly SM, Canfield J, So-Armah K, Palmer JA, Hurstak EE. Experiences of Trainees From Underrepresented Groups Within Addiction Medicine Training Programs: A Qualitative Study. Subst Use Addctn J. 2025 Apr 18; 29767342251319610. PMID: 40249028.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 2/11/2025

    Fuster D, So-Armah K, Cheng DM, Blokhina E, Patts G, Lioznov D, Gnatienko N, Long MT, Freiberg MS, Tindle H, Samet JH. Is There an Association Between Cigarette Smoking and Advanced Liver Fibrosis in Smokers with HIV, Heavy Drinking and High Prevalence of HCV? J Clin Med. 2025 Feb 11; 14(4). PMID: 40004700.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 12/22/2024

    Murray Horwitz ME, Dugas JN, McCloskey L, So-Armah K, Yarrington CD, Buitron de la Vega P, Benjamin EJ, Battaglia TA. Associations between Health-Related Social Needs and Postpartum Linkage to Care. Am J Prev Med. 2024 Dec 22. PMID: 39716509.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 12/12/2024

    Abi N, Young A, Tiwari P, Chen J, Liu C, Hui Q, So-Armah K, Freiberg MS, Justice AC, Xu K, Gwinn M, Marconi VC, Sun YV. Epigenome-Wide and Methylation Risk Score Analysis of Body Mass Index Among People with HIV. Epigenomes. 2024 Dec 12; 8(4). PMID: 39727808.

    Read at: PubMed

View All 95 Publications:   View Full Profile in BUMC

Other Positions

  • Faculty, Medicine
    Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Websites

Education

  • University of Pittsburgh, PhD
  • Amherst College, BA

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