Karsten Lunze, MD, MPH, DrPH, FACPM, FAAP Hear my name
Associate Professor
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Medicine
General Internal Medicine

MD, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
DPH/DrPH, Boston University School of Public Health
DM, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
MPH, Harvard School of Public Health

Pronouns: he/him/his



Karsten Lunze holds a medical degree and doctorates in genetic epidemiology and public health. Following clinical training in pediatrics at Charité Berlin, Germany, and the Johns Hopkins Children's Center, Baltimore, MD, and in public health/preventive medicine and addiction medicine at BMC, he has conducted research concerned with individual and structural risks affecting disadvantaged populations. His clinical health services research has been devoted to improving the health of women and newborns in resource-limited environments. Karsten's federally and foundation-supported global health research aims to improve access to quality care for disadvantaged populations worldwide by addressing intersectional stigma and other barriers to prevention and care via multi-level behavioral and pharmacological interventions for people with addictions, HIV, TB and other conditions.

Director of Global Health, Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center
Co-Director, Providence/Boston Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) Substance Use Research Core

Access to quality care for disadvantaged people
Stigma, HIV prevention and care in key populations
Behavioral interventions in humanitarian settings
Implementation Science
Global maternal and newborn health

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility

Increasing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in our work and workforce is central to my lab’s shared vision of equal access to quality prevention and care for everyone. Our mission is to empower disadvantaged people worldwide and assist them in coping with stigma and other barriers to accessing care. Inherently, in our work and our lives, we therefore share the core values of tolerance and inclusion as the opposite of stigma and discrimination. As first-generation immigrant to our university’s country, I welcome and celebrate diversity as a natural enrichment of our research activities and of our learning. We take great satisfaction from our achievements that strengthened the evidence-base around behavioral interventions for disadvantaged people, made possible by winning over people from around the world, with a fascinating spectrum of backgrounds, to gather and work with us. Realizing that tolerance and inclusion are continuously and ubiquitously under attack, we want to provide workplaces that are safe spaces. Aware of our perspectives, biased and position of privilege, we aspire to build a sense of belonging for everyone who shares BMC’s motto of excellent care, without exception.

I strive to foster learner-centered mentoring and teaching of diverse students, fellows and early-stage faculty, including underrepresented individuals. Our structural approach to increasing equity and accessibility is community engagement, i.e., partnering for all aspects of our research and teaching with people who have lived experiences. My research and teaching focuses on social and other determinants of population health, and underrepresented scholars have been instrumental in trailblazing our stigma intervention work. We created our Clinical Undergraduate Research in Addictions - Training and Experiences (CURATE) and Physician Research in Training (PRiT) programs [ https://www.bumc.bu.edu/care/education-and-training-programs/training-programs/mssrp/ ] that I lead with the firm goal of increasing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in research and teaching – this will make our mission even more divertido.

Faculty
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Medicine
Clinical Addiction Research and Education Unit




Estimating Mediation and Moderation Effects in HIV Care Continuum Intervention Trials for People who Use Drugs
04/01/2023 - 01/31/2028 (Subcontract PI)
PI: Karsten Lunze, MD, MPH, DrPH, FACPM, FAAP
San Diego State University Research Foundation NIH NIDA


Preventing Mental Disorders Among Women Internally Displaced by War in Ukraine: The SHAWL Trial
08/16/2023 - 08/15/2026 (Multi-PI)
PI: Karsten Lunze, MD, MPH, DrPH, FACPM, FAAP
National Institute of Mental Health/NIH/DHHS
1R34MH134077-01

Substance Use Prevention for Recently displaced Adults (SUPRA)
04/01/2024 - 03/31/2026 (Multi-PI)
PI: Karsten Lunze, MD, MPH, DrPH, FACPM, FAAP
National Institute on Drug Abuse/NIH/DHHS
1R61DA059856-01

2024 (INVEST) Drug Use and Addiction Research Fellowship
01/23/2023 - 01/22/2026 (PI)
National Institute on Drug Abuse/NIH/DHHS


Sustaining recovery for people on opioid agonist treatment with conversational agents
09/30/2023 - 08/31/2025 (Multi-PI)
PI: Karsten Lunze, MD, MPH, DrPH, FACPM, FAAP
National Institute on Drug Abuse/NIH/DHHS
1R34DA058124-01A1

Community-engaged implementation strategies for acceptance interventions to improve access to care for people with HIV and injection drug use
09/01/2023 - 08/31/2025 (PI)
National Institute on Drug Abuse/NIH/DHHS
5R03DA059341-02

Providence/Boston Center for AIDS Research (CFAR): CORE SUPPORT (Cores A,B,H,K,L)
07/01/2023 - 06/30/2025 (Subcontract PI)
PI: Karsten Lunze, MD, MPH, DrPH, FACPM, FAAP
The Miriam Hospital NIH NIAID


Competitive Revision to Stigma, Risk Behaviors and Health Care Among HIV-Infected Russian People Who Inject Drugs
09/01/2020 - 08/31/2023 (PI)
National Institute on Drug Abuse/NIH/DHHS
3R00DA041245-05S1

Stigma, Risk Behaviors and Health Care among HIV-Infected Russian People Who…
09/01/2018 - 08/31/2023 (PI)
National Institute on Drug Abuse/NIH/DHHS
5R00DA041245-05

Providence Boston Center for AIDS Research (CFAR)
07/01/2018 - 06/30/2023 (Subcontract PI)
PI: Karsten Lunze, MD, MPH, DrPH, FACPM, FAAP
The Miriam Hospital NIH NIAID
5P30AI042853-24

Showing 10 of 13 results. Show All Results

Title


Yr Title Project-Sub Proj Pubs
2025 Development of Systems and Education for Cervical Cancer prevention (DOSE-CC) 1R01CA299475-01
2024 Substance Use Prevention for Recently displaced Adults (SUPRA) 1R61DA059856-01
2024 Sustaining recovery for people on opioid agonist treatment with conversational agents 5R34DA058124-02
2024 Community-engaged implementation strategies for acceptance interventions to improve access to care for people with HIV and injection drug use 5R03DA059341-02
2024 Gabapentin to Reduce Alcohol and Improve Viral Load Suppression - Promoting "Treatment as Prevention" 5R01AA030460-03
2023 Sustaining recovery for people on opioid agonist treatment with conversational agents 1R34DA058124-01A1
2023 Community-engaged implementation strategies for acceptance interventions to improve access to care for people with HIV and injection drug use 1R03DA059341-01
2023 Preventing Mental Disorders Among Women Internally Displaced by War in Ukraine: The SHAWL Trial 1R34MH134077-01
2023 Gabapentin to Reduce Alcohol and Improve Viral Load Suppression - Promoting "Treatment as Prevention" 5R01AA030460-02
2022 Gabapentin to Reduce Alcohol and Improve Viral Load Suppression - Promoting "Treatment as Prevention" 1R01AA030460-01
Showing 10 of 19 results. Show All Results

Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.

iCite Analysis       Copy PMIDs To Clipboard

  1. Kirvalidze M, Kasrashvili M, Tskitishvili A, Aladashvili G, Chelidze N, Tvildiani N, Lunze K, Nadareishvili I. Access to Medical Residency: A Qualitative Study of Medical Graduates' Experiences in Georgia. J Med Educ Curric Dev. 2025; 12:23821205251342050. PMID: 40357006; PMCID: PMC12066863; DOI: 10.1177/23821205251342050;
     
  2. Aladashvili G, Kirvalidze M, Tskitishvili A, Chelidze N, Tvildiani N, Pkhakadze G, Bossert TJ, Lunze K, Nadareishvili I. Strengthening Health Workforce in Georgia: Identifying Gaps and Integrating Evidence-Based Strategic Planning. Int J Health Plann Manage. 2025 Mar 30. PMID: 40159301
     
  3. Davis A, Nyblade L, Sun Y, Balabekova O, Landers SE, Gryazev D, Tucker JD, Gulyaev V, Rosenthal SL, Lunze K, Tang W, Kuskulov A, Terlikbayeva A, Primbetova S, Chang M, Denebayeva AY, Akhmetova AU, Absemetova A, Karzhaubayeva S, Kassymbekova S, Maximova M, Mussina Z, Bekenova G, Nugmanova Z, Kalmatayeva Z, Polyakova L, Zhazykbaeva ZK, Vinogradov V, Shaikezhanov A, Darisheva M, Orynbetova B, Norakidze E, Kozhakhmet M, Tolegenova A, Imadillda A, Satkhozhina D, Kartamyssov A, Kanieva Z, Aleshina A, Makhan O, Muravyova A, Rahimzanova A, Duisenbayev A, Tursynbek Z, Dias N, Beken M, Murzakhan M, Brown ZA, Maitekov D, Li A, Mergen S, Mergenov D, Kuanysh A, Rakhimbekov A, Baisbay Y, Aruzhan A, Kozhambet Z, Grebenchishikov D, Bekker D, Kozhamberdiev S, Salykov D, Sagimbayeva M, Yussupova K, Mergenova G. A digital citizen science intervention to reduce HIV stigma and promote HIV testing: a randomized clinical trial among adolescents and young adults in Kazakhstan. Sex Health. 2025 Mar; 22. PMID: 40146739
     
  4. Salnikova A, Makarenko O, Sereda Y, Kiriazova T, Lunze K, DeHovitz J, Ompad DC. Depression among people living with tuberculosis and tuberculosis/HIV coinfection in Ukraine: a cross-sectional study. Glob Health Action. 2025 Dec; 18(1):2448894.View Related Profiles. PMID: 39943845; PMCID: PMC11827038; DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2024.2448894;
     
  5. Lunze K, Carroll JJ, Ahuja N, Lira MC, Tsui JI, Ventura A, Colasanti JA, Liebschutz JM, Del Rio C, Samet JH. Opioid risk-reduction strategies for people with HIV on chronic opioid therapy: A qualitative study of patient perspectives. SSM Ment Health. 2024 Dec; 6.View Related Profiles. PMID: 39990723; PMCID: PMC11845234; DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmmh.2024.100364;
     
  6. Nadareishvili I, Rao SR, Otiashvili D, Gnatienko N, Samet JH, Lunze K, Kirtadze I. Post-legalization shifts in cannabis use among young adults in Georgia-A nationally representative study. Addiction. 2025 Feb; 120(2):335-346.View Related Profiles. PMID: 39417804; PMCID: PMC11707321; DOI: 10.1111/add.16688;
     
  7. Rossi SL, Young K, Wade P, Khan SM, Lunze K. Women's Perceived HIV Stigma and Testing in Stann Creek District, Belize: A Population-Representing, Mixed-Methods Study. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2024 Sep 04; 111(3):589-597. PMID: 38981505; PMCID: PMC11376188; DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.23-0059;
     
  8. Davis A, Rosenthal SL, Tucker JD, Balabekova O, Nyblade L, Sun Y, Gryazev D, Lunze K, Landers SE, Tang W, Kuskulov A, Gulyayev V, Terlikbayeva A, Primbetova S, Mergenova G. A citizen science approach to develop a digital intervention to reduce HIV stigma and promote HIV self-testing among adolescents and young adults: a mixed methods analysis from Kazakhstan. J Int AIDS Soc. 2024 Jul; 27 Suppl 3(Suppl 3):e26314. PMID: 39030847; PMCID: PMC11258447; DOI: 10.1002/jia2.26314;
     
  9. Pinkhover A, Celata K, Baker T, Chatterjee A, Lunze K. Mobile addiction treatment and harm reduction services as tools to address health inequities: a community case study of the Brockton Neighborhood Health Center mobile unit. Front Public Health. 2024; 12:1407522.View Related Profiles. PMID: 38957203; PMCID: PMC11217472; DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1407522;
     
  10. Spata A, Gupta I, Lear MK, Lunze K, Luoma JB. Substance use stigma: A systematic review of measures and their psychometric properties. Drug Alcohol Depend Rep. 2024 Jun; 11:100237. PMID: 38779475; PMCID: PMC11108807; DOI: 10.1016/j.dadr.2024.100237;
     
Showing 10 of 99 results. Show More

This graph shows the total number of publications by year, by first, middle/unknown, or last author.

Bar chart showing 98 publications over 19 distinct years, with a maximum of 13 publications in 2022

YearPublications
20041
20061
20092
20102
20112
20122
20137
20143
20157
20164
201712
20182
20193
20206
20216
202213
202312
20249
20254

2018 American Association of Public Health Physicians: Presidential Citation
2017 American Public Health Association: Sidel Levy Award for Peace
2016 American College of Preventive Medicine: Humanism in Medicine Award
2016 National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA): NIH New Investigator Award
2015 UNHCR/EMERCOM : UN Humanitarian Medal
2013 NIDA and Taiwan CDC; Taipei, Taiwan: Early Career Investigator Award for Global Health
2013 ISAM, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: NIDA-ISAM Award
2012 American College of Preventive Medicine: Don Gemson Resident Award
2012 NIH: NIDA Women & Sex/Gender Junior Investigator Travel Award
2012 The International Society for the Study of Drug Policy, Canterbury, UK: Prize for Best Study Influencing Drug Policy
2012 American Society of Addiction Medicine: Ruth Fox Award
2007-2008 Harvard University: Holtzer Award
2005 German Hypertension Society, Heidelberg, Germany : Young Investigator Award

We welcome interested and dedicated students, postdocs and clinical fellows to learn about and contribute to our portfolio in HIV prevention and maternal & newborn health research.

Learn more about our Medical Student Summer Research Program (MSSRP) here https://www.bumc.bu.edu/care/education-and-training-programs/training-programs/mssrp/ and see contacts below if you are interested.

Available to Mentor as: (Review Mentor Role Definitions):
  • Advisor
  • Co-Mentor or Peer Mentor
  • Diversity Mentor
  • Project Mentor
  • Research / Scholarly Mentor
Contact for Mentoring:
  • Email (see 'Contact Info')
  • Assistant
         Name: Ve Truong, Jules Canfield
         Email: ve.truong@bmc.org; Jules.Canfield@bmc.org

801 Massachusetts Ave Crosstown Center
Boston MA 02118
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