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 9/12/2025

    Hahn JA, Kane JC, Fatch R, Espinosa da Silva C, Emenyonu NI, Scheffler A, Chirayil P, So-Armah K, Kahler CW, Conroy AA, Edelman EJ, Woolf-King S, Parry CD, Kiene SM, Chamie G, Muyindike WR, Adong J, Go VF, Cook RL, Morojele NK, Fiellin DA, Santos GM, Tahir P, Samet J, Krupitsky E, Allen IE. Alcohol interventions for persons with HIV: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials using phosphatidylethanol and self-report. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2025 Sep 12; 276:112879. PMID: 40992009.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 6/9/2025

    Yan A, Kundu S, Samuels DC, Bailin S, Xu K, So-Armah K, Butt AA, Gerschenson M, Goetz MB, Doyle M, Tracy R, Marconi VC, Justice A, Freiberg M, Koethe JR, Hulgan T. Mitochondrial DNA Haplogroups, Biomarkers of Inflammation and Immune Activation, and Risk of Diabetes in Veterans with and without HIV. J Infect Dis. 2025 Jun 09. PMID: 40488298.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 5/16/2025

    Mills L, Sepulveda ER, Miller Z, Jones J, Hernandez G, Ly SM, Canfield J, Flanigan T, Goulet P, Joseph R, Hurstak E, Palmer JA, Sanchez M, So-Armah K, Fitzpatrick AM. Social Determinants of Health and Linkage to HIV Care Among Groups at High Risk for Not Linking to HIV Care. Res Sq. 2025 May 16. PMID: 40470238.

    Read at: PubMed

  • 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 Jul; 46(3):612-623. PMID: 40249028.

    Read at: PubMed

View All 98 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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