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Monica Mercon, MD

Doctor Monica Mercon
Assistant Professor
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, RUSH Medical College
Attending Physician, CORE Center/Cook County Health
Education

MD, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Infectious Disease Residency/Fellowship, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
Primary Care/Social Medicine Residency, Montefiore Hospital/Albert Einstein School of Medicine
MSc and PhD, Infectious Diseases, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
MPH, Yale School of Public Health

Research Areas

While in Brazil, Mercon supervised NIH sponsored protocols for HIV prevention and treatment, including the IPrEx study, ACTG trials for TB in HIV infected patients, and an HIV vaccine trial, SMART Study, START Study. In the United States, Mercon has been involved in studies investigating potential barriers for linkage and retention in care among newly diagnosed HIV patients. Mercon also participates in researching HIV prevention in a primary care setting, including PrEP and nPEP implementation in primary Care settings within a high HIV prevalence area. More recently, Mercon has been involved in studies testing different strategies to improve engagement in care.

Areas of Expertise: HIV care and prevention, HIV co-infections, Viral Hepatitis, Social Medicine, Global Health. 

Links:
Biography

During her career, Mercon has been dedicated to providing and improving care for HIV individuals, in Brazil and in the United States. Her focus has always been on underserved and minority populations that are disproportionally affected by the HIV epidemics and who have greater barriers to adherence to antiretroviral treatment. Stigma, depression, substance abuse, poor social support, and lack of education are among the barriers that she notices in patient care every day. She has worked with the challenges related to adherence to HIV treatment for almost two decades and has a great interest in finding new tools to improve patient’s treatment.

Publications

Akselrold, H, Mercon, M, Risoe, PK, Schlegelmilch, J, McGovern, J, Bogucki, S. Creating a Process for Incorporating Epidemiological Modeling into Outbreak Management Decisions. Journal of Business Continuity & Emergency Planning 2012; 6(1):68-83.

Nunes, EP, Santini de Oliveira, M, Mercon, M, Zajdenverg, R, Faulhaber, JC, Pilotto, JH, Ribeiro, JE, Norton, M, Schechter, M. Monotherapy with Lopinavir/Ritonavir as Maintenance After HIV-1 Viral Suppression: Results of a 96-week Randomized, Controlled, Open-Label, and Pilot Trial (KalMo Study). HIV Clinical Trials 2009; 10(6):368–374.

Mercon, M, Regua-Mangia, AH, Irino, K, Teixeira, LM, Tuboi, SH, Santoro-Lopes, G. Urinary Tract Infections in Renal Transplant Recipients: Virulence Traits of Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli. Transplantation Proceedings 2010; 42:483-485.

Mercon, M, Tuboi, SH, Batista, SM, Telles, SRB, Grangeiro, JR, Zajdenverg, R, Barroso, PF, Lago, RF, Melo, MF, Schechter, M. Risk-based Assessment Does Not Distinguish Between Recent and Chronic HIV-1 Infection in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases 2009; 13(4):272-275.

G Pacheco, AG, Tuboi, SH, May, SB, Moreira, LFS, Ramadas, L, Nunes, EP, Mercon, M, Faulhaber, JC, Harrison, LH, Schechter, M. Temporal changes in causes of death among HIV-infected patients in the HAART era in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Journal of Acquired Immudeficiency Syndrome 2009; 51:624–630.

May, SB, Barroso, PF, Nunes, EP, Barcani, HS, Mercon, M, Costa, MD, Falhaber, JC, Santoro-Lopes, G, Schechter, M. Effectiveness of highly active antiretroviral therapy using non-brand name drugs in Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research 2007; 40:551-555.

Esparisi, CM, Teixeira, LM, Irino, K, Gih, PF, Mercon, M, Santoro Lopes, G, Bravo, VL, Pacheco, RS, Régua-Mangia, AH. Biological and molecular characteristics of uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains isolated in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 2006; 39(6):573-576.

Mercon, M, Gonçalves, RT, Lopes, GS. Effect of tacrolimus on urinary tract infection incidence after renal transplantation. Transplantation 2004; 78(2):661.

Mercon, M, Gonçalves, RT, Lopes, GS. Relação entre morbidade e etiologia das infecções do trato urinário em receptores de transplante renal. Jornal Brasileiro de Nefrologia 2004; 26(3):96.

Mercon, M, Gonçalves, RT, Lopes, GS. Incidência de infecções do trato urinário em receptores de transplante renal. Jornal Brasileiro de Nefrologia 2004; 26(3):89.

Sohler, MP, Chimelli, L, Mercon, M, Gonçalves, RR, Pimenta, G, Bianco, C, Rios, M, Jacobson, S. Pathological and virological assessment of acute HTLV-I-associated myelopathy complicated with encephalopathy and systemic inflamation. Journal of Neurological Sciences 2003; 2007(2003):87-93.

Grants

TMC114FD2HTX3002    Huhn (PI)    08/01/2017 – ongoing
Janssen Research and Development, LLC
A Phase 3, Single-arm, Open-label Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Darunavir/Cobicistat/ Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Alafenamide (D/C/F/TAF) Once Daily Fixed Dose Combination (FDC) Regimen in Newly Diagnosed, Antiretroviral Treatment-naïve Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) Infected Subjects Receiving Care in a Test and Treat Model of Care

The primary objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of D/C/F/TAF FDC in a Test and Treat model of care in newly diagnosed HIV-1-infected, treatment-naive subjects as determined by the proportion of virologic responders defined as having HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL at Week 48 (Food and Drug Administration [FDA]-defined intent to treat [ITT] snapshot analysis).

Role: Sub-Investigator

 

PB-WOTFORHEPC    Huhn (PI)    08/01/2017 – ongoing 
Proteus Digital Health
Evaluation of Wirelessly Observed Therapy to Optimize Adherence in Patients with Hepatitis C and Increased Risk for Nonadherence to Treatment

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the SVR rate of direct-acting agent therapy who are using Proteus Discover in patients considered high risk for nonadherence. The secondary objectives of this study are to evaluate the ingestion adherence rate and safety profile in subjects using Proteus Discover.

Role: Sub-Investigator

National Institute on Drug Abuse CTN-0067
Vergara-Rodriguez (PI)    11/2017 – ongoing
Comparing Treatments for HIV-Infected Opioid Users in an Integrated Care Effectiveness Study (CHOICES) Scale-Up

The overarching goal of the CHOICES scale-up study is to determine the effectiveness of HIV clinic-based Extended-Release Naltrexone (XR-NTX) therapy in achieving HIV viral suppression in HIV-infected patients with opioid use disorder. Secondary aims compare the effectiveness of XR-NTX versus Treatment as Usual in 1) other HIV outcomes, 2) engagement in HIV care, and 3) ART adherence as mediated by number of opioid use days at 24 weeks. An additional secondary aim assesses barriers and facilitators of implementing XR-NTX for retaining patients in HIV primary care. 

Role: Study Clinician