Overview
Mehri McKellar, MD is a Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Duke University Medical Center, and has almost 20 years of experience in treating persons with HIV (PWH). She serves as one of the primary providers in the Duke ID Clinic.
Since her arrival at Duke University in 2008, one of her major research interests has been on HIV prevention – including rapid HIV testing in non-traditional settings such as emergency rooms and in the community, and more recently, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). She serves as the Medical Director of the Duke PrEP clinic, which was the first dedicated PrEP Clinic in North Carolina and has seen >500 persons for HIV prevention. Her work with PrEP also extends to persons who inject drugs via syringe services programs and to individuals who are incarcerated.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Recent Publications
Opinions and Concerns Surrounding Long-Acting Injectable (LAI) and Oral HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Among Current and Former LAI and Oral PrEP Users.
Journal Article AIDS Behav · October 2025 Long-acting injectable (LAI) pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has potential to increase PrEP uptake and adherence. However, most studies investigating opinions about LAI PrEP were done prior to its approval. We administered a cross-sectional electronic surv ... Full text Link to item CitePreexposure Prophylaxis to Prevent HIV Acquisition: Perceptions among Sexual and Gender Minority Individuals in North Carolina.
Journal Article South Med J · July 2025 OBJECTIVES: Sexual and gender minority (SGM) communities at increased risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may be underprescribed preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP), but PrEP research on SGM communities other than transgender women and cisgender men who ... Full text Link to item CiteLenacapavir: a first-in-class capsid inhibitor for HIV treatment and prevention.
Journal Article Curr Opin Infect Dis · June 1, 2025 PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review summarizes available data for lenacapavir (LEN), a first-in-class agent that targets several functions of the HIV capsid in the viral cycle, including nuclear entry, viral assembly, and capsid formation. RECENT FINDINGS: LEN ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
A Phase 3, Randomized, Open-Label, Active-Controlled Study to Evaluate a Switch to an Oral Weekly Islatravir/Lenacapavir Regimen in People With HIV-1 Who Are Virologically Suppressed on Standard of Care
Clinical TrialPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Gilead Sciences, Inc. · 2024 - 2030ISLEND-1 A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-blind, Active-controlled Study to Evaluate a Switch to an Oral Weekly Islatravir/Lenacapavir Regimen in People With HIV-1 Who Are Virologically Suppressed on Bictegravir/Emtricitabine/Tenofovir (B/F/TAF)
Clinical TrialPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Gilead Sciences, Inc. · 2024 - 2030Interdisciplinary Research Training Program in AIDS
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2010 - 2030View All Grants