Daniel Malamud, Ph.D., adjunct professor of medicine (infectious diseases) at NYU School of Medicine, professor of basic science at NYU College of Dentistry, and director of the HIV/AIDS Research Program (HARP) at NYU College of Dentistry, has dedicated his career to researching HIV.

His recent research is on the development of a new rapid HIV test that does not require additional testing for confirmation— a step that patients often decline, keeping them from seeking necessary treatment. Now, he’s working on applying the same science to develop a rapid Zika test that could detect the virus months after infection.

Dr. Malamud was recruited to NYU from the University of Pennsylvania in 2005 with the help of a grant from the NYSTAR Faculty Development Program (FDP). He arrived at NYU with NIH grants totaling more than $1 million.

The initial $750,000 FDP grant was matched by NYU, thus providing supplemental funding for Dr. Malamud’s lab that extended beyond the life of the FDP grant.

Dr. Malamud credits the funding provided by the NYSTAR program with enabling him to expand his research scope and take on projects such as the large clinical trial tracking the microbiome and proteome in HIV infected individuals before and after antiretroviral treatment as compared to people who are not infected.

“I could never have taken on a task like that if I didn’t have a steady source of funds,” said Dr. Malamud.

The investment was invaluable at a time when research funding was beginning to get more difficult to secure.

“When you secure a grant like (the) NYSTAR (FDP), it helps not only your research, but all of the researchers around you,” said Dr. Malamud. “For example, it’s very hard to buy new research equipment – but when you can, it benefits your entire department and beyond.”

Dr. Malamud is nearing 12 years at NYU, and he says he’s never looked back, thanks to the positive environment and opportunities to advance his research.