About

Roanne Kantor is an Assistant Professor of English and also serves as an Assistant Professor, by courtesy, of Comparative Literature at Stanford University. Her research interests focus on English languages, literatures, and cultures. The information provided highlights her dual appointment in the English department and the Comparative Literature division, indicating an interdisciplinary approach to her scholarship. However, the page text does not provide further details about her specific research projects, background, or key contributions beyond her areas of interest and academic titles.

Research topics

• Political Science
• Medicine
• Virology
• Law
• Physics
• Biology
• Engineering
• Pathology
• Internal medicine
• Geography
• Pediatrics

Selected publications

• The ethics of research involving biobanking specimens from Kenyan children and adolescents living with HIV: discrepancies between individual perceptions and policy considerations

  Figshare · 2026-02-26

  otherOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract Introduction Biobanking is common in research involving young people living with HIV (YPLHIV). The ethics and policies guiding this practice require careful consideration, especially given the population’s multiple vulnerabilities, like age, HIV status, and limited resources. We examined how well the perspectives of YPLHIV and other stakeholders are reflected in current policies in sub-Saharan Africa, aiming to inform more ethically grounded policy development for specimen biobanking. Methods We conducted a review of biobanking-related policy documents from sub-Saharan Africa, primarily from the East African region, and compared them to qualitative findings from interviews with YPLHIV in western Kenya, their caregivers, and subject matter experts (SMEs) regarding perspectives on biobanking. We synthesized the policy and interview data to identify key similarities, differences, and gaps. Themes were organized into three main categories related to biospecimens: (1) collection and analysis, (2) storage and identification, and (3) testing and sharing. Results Interviews were conducted with 99 participants – 40 YPLHIV, 20 caregivers, and 39 SMEs (community leaders, healthcare providers, clinical researchers, social scientists, international research experts, and laboratory experts). Participants across all groups stressed the importance of informed consent, results dissemination, confidentiality, transparency, and secure storage. Additional themes included concerns about long-term storage, unauthorized use, sharing with ill-intentioned individuals, requests for participant benefits, expressions of trust in researchers, and disagreement over using identifiers in biospecimen labeling. Interview themes were reflected to varying degrees in policy documents. Our policy search revealed articles from 12 countries, published between 2004 and 2023. All countries addressed consent and confidentiality (n = 12) and most covered results dissemination (n = 11) and biospecimen sharing (n = 9); fewer addressed participant benefits (n = 4), labeling (n = 4), and direct guidance on use, location, and duration of storage (n = 4). Some gaps between stakeholder views and existing policies were evident. Conclusion Perceptions of research involving biobanking among African YPLHIV were mixed, revealing inconsistencies in participants’ responses, and highlighting gaps between these perceptions and existing policies, which were often limited, outdated, and incomprehensive. Findings highlight the need for clear, timely and inclusive policy updates that reflect stakeholder input, particularly as research involving this vulnerable population continues.

  PublisherDOI

• Additional file 1 of The ethics of research involving biobanking specimens from Kenyan children and adolescents living with HIV: discrepancies between individual perceptions and policy considerations

  Figshare · 2026-02-26

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Supplementary Material 1. Table S1: African policy topics related to major interview themes.

  PublisherDOI

• The ethics of research involving biobanking specimens from Kenyan children and adolescents living with HIV: discrepancies between individual perceptions and policy considerations

  Figshare · 2026-02-26

  otherOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract Introduction Biobanking is common in research involving young people living with HIV (YPLHIV). The ethics and policies guiding this practice require careful consideration, especially given the population’s multiple vulnerabilities, like age, HIV status, and limited resources. We examined how well the perspectives of YPLHIV and other stakeholders are reflected in current policies in sub-Saharan Africa, aiming to inform more ethically grounded policy development for specimen biobanking. Methods We conducted a review of biobanking-related policy documents from sub-Saharan Africa, primarily from the East African region, and compared them to qualitative findings from interviews with YPLHIV in western Kenya, their caregivers, and subject matter experts (SMEs) regarding perspectives on biobanking. We synthesized the policy and interview data to identify key similarities, differences, and gaps. Themes were organized into three main categories related to biospecimens: (1) collection and analysis, (2) storage and identification, and (3) testing and sharing. Results Interviews were conducted with 99 participants – 40 YPLHIV, 20 caregivers, and 39 SMEs (community leaders, healthcare providers, clinical researchers, social scientists, international research experts, and laboratory experts). Participants across all groups stressed the importance of informed consent, results dissemination, confidentiality, transparency, and secure storage. Additional themes included concerns about long-term storage, unauthorized use, sharing with ill-intentioned individuals, requests for participant benefits, expressions of trust in researchers, and disagreement over using identifiers in biospecimen labeling. Interview themes were reflected to varying degrees in policy documents. Our policy search revealed articles from 12 countries, published between 2004 and 2023. All countries addressed consent and confidentiality (n = 12) and most covered results dissemination (n = 11) and biospecimen sharing (n = 9); fewer addressed participant benefits (n = 4), labeling (n = 4), and direct guidance on use, location, and duration of storage (n = 4). Some gaps between stakeholder views and existing policies were evident. Conclusion Perceptions of research involving biobanking among African YPLHIV were mixed, revealing inconsistencies in participants’ responses, and highlighting gaps between these perceptions and existing policies, which were often limited, outdated, and incomprehensive. Findings highlight the need for clear, timely and inclusive policy updates that reflect stakeholder input, particularly as research involving this vulnerable population continues.

  PublisherDOI

• Additional file 1 of The ethics of research involving biobanking specimens from Kenyan children and adolescents living with HIV: discrepancies between individual perceptions and policy considerations

  Figshare · 2026-02-26

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Supplementary Material 1. Table S1: African policy topics related to major interview themes.

  PublisherDOI

• HIV drug resistance, early treatment outcomes and impact of guidelines compliance after protease inhibitor‐based second‐line failure in a dedicated resistance clinic in western Kenya: a retrospective cohort study

  Journal of the International AIDS Society · 2025-06-01

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  INTRODUCTION: Data on drug resistance, viral outcomes and guidelines compliance following protease inhibitor (PI)-based second-line failure in low- and middle-income countries are limited, particularly in the era of dolutegravir-containing antiretroviral therapy (ART). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of people living with HIV (PLWH) ≥3 years old with second-line viral failure (VF, ≥1000 copies/ml) at the Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare from 2011 to 2021. We assessed resistance prevalence and patterns at second-line VF, stratified by PI (atazanavir/ritonavir or lopinavir/ritonavir), and examined correlations of resistance and treatment strategies with VF at 6-18 months post-genotype. Analyses employed inverse probability weighting, adjusting for calendar year, age, gender, ART duration, PI at genotyping and class-specific resistance, and considered guidelines-supported versus unsupported strategies. RESULTS: Of 187 participants (median age 41 years, 54% female, 41% on atazanavir/ritonavir, 59% on lopinavir/ritonavir-based ART), 91% had any resistance (NRTI 79%, NNRTI 80%, major PI 37%, dual-class 36%, triple-class 37%). Predicted resistance to third-line options was 67% for etravirine or rilpivirine and 10% for darunavir/ritonavir. Despite higher resistance detected on atazanavir/ritonavir versus lopinavir/ritonavir, predicted darunavir/ritonavir resistance was similar. At median 9 months post-genotype, 95% of 173 participants with available data were on a guidelines-supported regimen (55% second-line; 45% third-line, 86% dolutegravir-based), of whom 28% had post-genotype VF. Of the 5% not on guidelines-supported regimens, 71% had post-genotype VF. Adjusted odds of VF were higher for guidelines-unsupported versus supported regimens (OR = 4.52; 95% CI 1.02-26.24), and odds of VF were 97% lower for those on third-line versus second-line (OR = 0.07; 95% CI 0.02-0.20). CONCLUSIONS: We found high levels of drug resistance and early VF following PI-based second-line failure in Kenya. Treatment guidelines compliance and switches to third-line, even within guidelines recommendations, improved early viral outcomes. Findings highlight the vulnerability of PLWH with advanced ART experience and resistance profiles, and the importance of following guidelines and improving access to third-line and drug resistance testing, particularly in the new ART era.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Challenges Faced by Perinatally-Infected Kenyan Adolescents and Youth Living with HIV During the COVID-19 Pandemic

  AIDS and Behavior · 2025-03-20 · 2 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Newly Diagnosed Individuals in Molecular HIV-1 Clusters in Rhode Island Over 3 Decades

  The Journal of Infectious Diseases · 2025-06-12

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  BACKGROUND: Characterizing clustering rates of people with HIV in high-risk populations can offer insights on the HIV epidemic, enhancing efforts to control its spread. METHODS: We investigated longitudinal dynamics of clustering rates among individuals newly diagnosed with HIV-1. Data were extracted from the medical records of all people with HIV in Rhode Island with available viral sequences. Partial pol sequences were grouped by HIV diagnosis year, and clusters were identified in annual phylogenies. Clustering trends were estimated within 11 sociodemographic variables with the Mann-Kendall statistic. Associations with clustering propensity and changes over time were tested via generalized linear mixed effects models. RESULTS: HIV-1 sequences from 2630 individuals representing the statewide epidemic were analyzed across 33 annual datasets (1991-2023). Over this period, a continuous increase in clustering rates among newly diagnosed individuals was observed despite decreasing diagnoses over the last decade. Significant upward trends in clustering were seen among newly diagnosed men who have sex with men, males, the 21- to 40-year age group, non-Hispanic or Latino people, White persons, those with subtype B, and US-born individuals but not among people who inject drugs, females, and incarcerated individuals. Analyses of relative associations between groups within variables corroborated these results. CONCLUSIONS: Analyses focusing on molecular HIV clusters among newly diagnosed people in a statewide epidemic over 3 decades revealed significant evolving trends among those at highest risk of HIV transmission, patterns not seen in the overall population. These findings inform the design and development of targeted public health interventions aimed at high-risk populations to curb HIV spread.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Treatment of Advanced HIV in the Modern Era

  Drugs · 2025-05-12 · 6 citations

  reviewOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Risks and benefits of engaging youth living with HIV in research: perspectives from Kenyan Youth, caregivers, and subject matter experts

  BMC Medical Ethics · 2025-05-16 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: Involving children and adolescents (youth) living with HIV (YLWH) in research is critical for developing appropriate HIV care services and interventions. However, this vulnerable population may not adequately weigh risks against benefits when participating in research, forming an ethical concern, yet little is known about how YLWH perceive these risks and benefits. To inform research-related policies and procedures, we sought perspectives of Kenyan YLWH, their caregivers and subject matter experts (SMEs) on risks and benefits of participation in research in a setting with a high burden of youth HIV infection. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative inquiry on identifying, enrolling, and protecting YLWH (age 10-24 years) in research using semi-structured interviews with YLWH involved in research, their caregivers, YLWH with no prior research experience, and other SMEs at the AMPATH care and research sites in western Kenya. Transcripts were thematically analyzed and emerging themes derived to characterize perspectives of each group on risks and benefits of engaging YLWH in research. RESULTS: Interviews were conducted with 40 YLWH (50% female; median age 17.5 years), 20 caregivers (70% female), and 39 SMEs [healthcare providers (N = 10), community leaders (N = 10) community advisory board members (N = 4), IRB experts (N = 5), clinical researchers (N = 6), social science researchers (N = 4) and laboratory experts (N = 1).] Participants in all groups identified accidental disclosure of HIV status, stigma and discrimination, risks of blood draws, mental health effects, and coercion due to study compensation as risks of research involvement. Benefits fell into 5 categories: clinical, informational, personal, future and community or household benefits. Benefits included access to health care, learning about HIV, gaining hope and community, improving HIV care, and reducing stigma. All participant groups largely held similar views; however, caregivers were the only group to identify misuse of study compensation as a risk, and YLWH less frequently cited clinical benefits. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that participants commonly cite indirect risks and benefits of research participation, yet these are often excluded from institutional guidelines for consent documentation. Researchers should consider including indirect risks and benefits, such as the risk of stigma or the benefit of gaining knowledge and community, to study documentation.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Lenacapavir-associated drug resistance: implications for scaling up long-acting HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis

  The Lancet HIV · 2025-06-18 · 8 citations

  reviewOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• Core L - Clinical & Behavioral Sciences Core

  NIH · $21.7M · 1998–2028

• HIV drug resistance, monitoring and transmission

  NIH · $1.3M · 2018–2028

• HIV Treatment Failure and Drug Resistance in Western Kenyan Children

  NIH · $2.9M · 2019–2023

• NIH Grant R01AI066922

  NIH · $2.8M · 2014

• Optimizing HIV Treatment Monitoring under Resource Constraints

  NIH · $3.5M · 2014–2022

Frequent coauthors

• Joseph W. Hogan

  AMPATH

  141 shared

• Allison DeLong

  133 shared

• Rachel C. Vreeman

  Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

  69 shared

• Fizza S. Gillani

  Brown University

  61 shared

• Philip A. Chan

  Brown University

  56 shared

• Mia Coetzer

  Brown University

  54 shared

• David Katzenstein

  Stanford University

  53 shared

• Akarsh Manne

  52 shared

Awards & honors

• Susan Sontag Prize for Translation