About

Vincent Lo Re, MD, MSCE, FISPE, is a professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) and Epidemiology at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, serving as the Director of the Rutgers Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science (PETS). He is a pharmacoepidemiologist with a focus on infectious diseases and chronic liver diseases, particularly viral hepatitis. Dr. Lo Re earned his BS from Georgetown University and his MD from the University of Pennsylvania, where he also completed his internship, residency, and fellowship in Infectious Diseases, along with a Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology. He joined the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania in 2008 and became Director of PETS at Rutgers in August 2025. His research involves the use of electronic healthcare data to study liver diseases, HIV, and COVID-19, pioneering methods such as computable phenotypes for liver-related diseases and conducting influential pharmacoepidemiologic studies. His work has contributed to understanding the impact of HIV viral suppression on liver disease outcomes, disparities in hepatitis C treatment access, and COVID-19 complications. Dr. Lo Re has received numerous awards for his research and teaching, including the HIV Medicine Association Research Award, the Harold I. Feldman Distinguished Faculty Award, and the COVID-19 Pharmacoepidemiology Research Award. He is a Fellow of the International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology, served as its President, and is Chair of the US FDA Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee. Additionally, he has held leadership roles in infectious disease and hepatitis C guidance panels, and is recognized for his mentorship and teaching excellence.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Internal medicine
• Immunology
• Family medicine
• Radiology
• Biochemistry
• Emergency medicine
• Environmental health
• Pharmacology
• Gastroenterology
• Endocrinology
• Biology
• Virology

Selected publications

• Changes in Three-Dimensional Volumetric Liver Fat Fraction after Cure of Chronic Hepatitis C Infection with Direct-Acting Antivirals

  Open Forum Infectious Diseases · 2026-01-11

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract Background It remains unclear if cure of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) leads to change in liver fat fraction and if this change differs from people without HCV observed over similar time. We evaluated the change in three-dimensional volumetric liver fat fraction by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) prior to DAA treatment and 18 months following initiation and compared changes in uninfected controls over 18 months. Methods We conducted a cohort study of 35 participants who initiated DAAs and achieved cure and 42 without HCV infection as controls. At enrollment and 18 months later, participants had measurements of height, body weight, and three-dimensional volumetric liver fat fraction and cross-sectional area of abdominal subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue by MRI. Multivariable linear regression was used to estimate group differences in mean changes in liver fat fraction. Results Mean change in three-dimensional volumetric liver fat fraction between Months 0 and 18 was +2.89% (95% CI: + 0.89%, + 4.88%) among participants with cured HCV and +0.48% (95% CI: -1.02%, + 1.97%) among controls (between group difference p-value=0.05). After adjustment for age, sex, smoking, and change in body mass index, the mean difference in liver fat fraction change between Months 0 and 18 was +3.11% (95% CI: + 0.46%, + 5.76%; p = 0.022) higher for participants with HCV versus controls. Conclusions Three-dimensional volumetric liver fat fraction by MRI significantly increased between Months 0 and 18 following successful treatment of HCV infection, but this finding was not observed from Month 0 to 18 among participants without HCV infection.

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• Development and Validation of Case‐Finding Algorithms to Identify Periprosthetic Joint Infections After Total Hip Arthroplasty in Veterans Health Administration Data

  Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety · 2026-01-01

  articleOpen access

  PURPOSE: To determine the positive predictive values (PPVs) of ICD-9- and ICD-10-based diagnostic coding algorithms to identify periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) following total hip arthroplasty (THA) within the United States (US) Veterans Health Administration (VHA). METHODS: We selected patients with: (1) any position hospital discharge ICD-9 or ICD-10 diagnosis of PJI, (2) ICD-9, ICD-10, or current procedural terminology (CPT) procedure codes for THA any time prior to PJI diagnosis, (3) CPT code for hip X-ray within ±90 days of the PJI diagnosis, and (4) 1 or more CPT codes for arthrocentesis, arthrotomy, or revision arthroplasty all occurring within ±90 days of the PJI diagnosis date. We obtained separate samples of patients for ICD-9 and ICD-10-based PJI diagnoses. These samples were stratified by THA medical center volume. Infectious disease physicians adjudicated each identified PJI event. The PPV (95% confidence interval [CI]) for the ICD-9 and ICD-10 PJI algorithms were calculated. RESULTS: Among the 90 sampled hip PJI events for the ICD-9 era, 79 were confirmed PJIs (PPV 87.8%, 95% CI 79.2%-93.7%). For the 90 sampled hip PJI events for the ICD-10 era, 72 were confirmed PJIs (PPV 80.0%, 95% CI 70.3%-87.7%). CONCLUSION: These algorithms yielded a PPV of 87.8% (ICD-9) and 80.0% (ICD-10), for confirmed PJI events and could be considered for use in future pharmacoepidemiologic studies.

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• Strategies to Enhance Satisfaction and Success in an Academic Career in Pharmacoepidemiology

  Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety · 2026-04-01

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  BACKGROUND: Building an academic career in pharmacoepidemiology requires intentional planning but can be challenging, particularly for new learners, trainees, and early faculty members who may lack awareness of the skills and benchmarks expected at each career stage. This paper provides reflections on designing a purposeful and sustainable academic career. PERSPECTIVES: The first part of the article focuses on four foundational elements: (1) setting aside time for regular reflection to clarify values and priorities; (2) developing a clear vision and defining missions for each professional and personal role; (3) prioritizing activities systematically to maintain alignment with one's vision, missions, and goals; (4) seeking and maintaining mentorship throughout one's career to obtain feedback and guide decision-making. We describe concrete strategies, tools, and authors' personal approaches for implementing these elements. The second part of the article outlines key skills to acquire and benchmarks to achieve during key career stages, including competencies such as time management, team-building, project management, research dissemination, research grant writing, mentorship, and leadership. In the final part, we note that structural, institutional, and life-course factors (e.g., gender, race/ethnicity, resource access, and major life events) may shape the feasibility and impact of these strategies, underscoring the importance of supportive environments, inclusive mentorship, and flexibility for sustainable careers. IMPLICATIONS: Our goal is not to prescribe a single pathway but to offer a reference that promotes individual reflection and catalyzes open discussion among peers, mentors, and colleagues to enhance satisfaction and success in an academic career in pharmacoepidemiology.

  PublisherDOI

• Brain penetrant calcium channel blockers do not reduce alcohol consumption: Converging results from two large independent cohort studies using electronic health records

  medRxiv · 2026-03-02

  articleOpen access

  Alcohol use disorder (AUD) remains a major public health problem, with few effective medications and suboptimal adherence. L-type calcium channel blockers (LTCCBs) have genetic and preclinical support as potential treatments for AUD. We evaluated whether brain penetrant (BP)-LTCCBs are associated with reduced alcohol consumption by conducting two preregistered (https://osf.io/huawv) observational cohort studies using electronic health records (EHRs) from the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC). New users of BP-LTCCBs (nifedipine or felodipine) were compared with new users of a non-BP-LTCCB (amlodipine) and with unexposed patients sampled from the same clinics, following a 180-day washout and requiring at least 60 days' supply. Propensity score matching was conducted separately for BP-LTCCB versus unexposed, non-BP-LTCCB versus unexposed, and BP-versus non-BP-LTCCB. The primary outcome was change in drinks per week from the most recent pre-index screen to end of follow-up, estimated using difference-in-differences (DiD) models. Prespecified subgroup analyses were conducted by AUD diagnosis, baseline drinking level, and sex. Across both health systems, BP-LTCCB initiation was not associated with greater reductions in drinks per week than either comparator, with broadly consistent findings across all subgroups. In two large, preregistered EHR-based cohorts with rigorous confounding control, BP-LTCCBs were not associated with reduced drinking relative to comparators. Despite compelling genetic and preclinical evidence, these results do not support repurposing BP-LTCCBs for AUD, highlighting the need to prioritize alternative pharmacologic targets, potentially within etiologically informed subgroups.

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• Package Insert Warnings and Liver Function Tests for CDK4/6 Inhibitors for Breast Cancer

  JAMA Network Open · 2026-03-05

  articleOpen access

  This cohort study examines the utilization and timing of liver function tests among patients with breast cancer treated with cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors as recommended by the Food and Drug Administration insert warnings for these drugs.

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• Frailty progression following severe infections in adults ≥65 years in US and England: two matched cohort studies

  medRxiv · 2026-03-15

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Background We investigated frailty progression after severe infections in adults (≥65 years) in the US and England. Methods We conducted parallel matched cohort studies using: US Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS-National, 2008-2019; median age 74 years; 98% male); and English Clinical Practice Research Datalink (2006-2019; median age 76 years; 45% male). Adults hospitalised primarily for infection (i.e., severe infection) were matched in calendar date order to individuals without severe infection on age, sex, care site, and US only, plus race and ethnicity. We measured frailty using VACS Index 2·0 (US) and Electronic Frailty Index (eFI; England). We estimated annual conditional mean frailty differences between adults with versus without severe infection using linear regression adjusting for baseline frailty, demographics, lifestyle factors, infection history, and US only, comorbidities. Results Mean baseline frailty was higher in those with severe infection than those without (US: 57 v 48; England: 0·17 v 0·12). At Year 1, adjusted mean frailty was higher among adults with severe infections than those without (US: VACS Index +2·0, 95% CI 1·9-2·0; England: eFI +0·005, 95% CI 0·005-0·006). At Years 2-5, adjusted mean frailty remained higher after severe infection; however, compared to Year 1, differences were smaller in US, and larger in England. Effects varied by infection type (strongest for lower respiratory tract infections, meningoencephalitis (UK only), urinary tract infections, and sepsis). Interpretation Individuals with severe infections had higher frailty at baseline and follow up than those without. Preventing both frailty and infections is important for improving health in older age. Funding Wellcome Research in context Evidence before this study We searched PubMed (inception to October 27, 2025), for published articles evaluating the association between infections and frailty, with no language restrictions. We used the search terms [(infection OR infectious) AND (frailty OR frail)]. We found fifteen observational studies investigating associations between individual infections (including: HIV, cytomegalovirus, SARS-CoV-2, acute respiratory infection, urinary tract infection, and influenza) and frailty in adults. Frailty measures varied: eight studies used Fried’s phenotype index, six used versions of the cumulative deficit index (i.e., Edmonton Frail Scale, FRAIL-NH Scale, Hospital Frailty Risk Score, Clinical Frailty Score, Veterans Affairs Frailty Index, Vulnerable Elders Survey-13), and one study used the Timed Up and Go Test. Results from identified studies were mixed, with nearly half (7/15) reporting a positive association between the infection studied and frailty, and the remaining eight finding no evidence of association. In cross-sectional analyses, HIV, SARS-CoV-2, cytomegalovirus, and urinary tract infection, were each associated with higher mean frailty scores or frailty prevalence. In longitudinal analysis, hospitalisation for acute respiratory infection was followed by higher mean hospital frailty risk scores two years post-discharge. SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with early onset (i.e., higher hazard) of frailty over three years follow-up. However, other studies found no association between HIV, SARS-CoV-2, acute respiratory infection and influenza, and frailty prevalence, incidence, or transition between frailty states. These mixed findings may reflect methodological differences between the studies, including variation in frailty measures, and study limitations. Frailty exists along a continuum of vulnerability, and progression after infection may be an important outcome, yet current evidence is scarce. It remains unclear whether severe infections or different types of infection, are associated with faster frailty deterioration. Similarly, it is uncertain whether post-infection frailty risk varies by pathogen (bacterial, viral, parasitic, fungal), infection type (sepsis, urinary tract infection, skin and soft tissue infection, meningitis/encephalitis, lower respiratory tract, gastroenteritis), or by age, sex, social deprivation, and pre-existing comorbidities. Added value of this study Our study compared frailty progression over a five-year period between adults aged ≥65 years with severe infection (hospitalisation primarily due to infection) versus comparators without severe infection. We found higher baseline frailty at severe infection onset than in matched comparators. We saw evidence of increased frailty progression over time in people following severe infections compared to those without, however, these differences were small. We also saw higher risk of worsening frailty progression in older adults and those with dementia. Further, worsening frailty progression varied by infection type (strongest for lower respiratory tract infections, meningoencephalitis (UK only), urinary tract infections, and sepsis). Implications of all the available evidence Our findings underscore the importance of both frailty and infection prevention in improving health in older age. Additional studies are required to explore other wider life-course influences on frailty, to guide the development of comprehensive preventive strategies.

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• Postmarketing safety surveillance for GSK’s AS01 _E -adjuvanted respiratory syncytial virus prefusion F protein-based vaccine in the USA: protocol for a non-interventional postauthorisation safety study

  BMJ Open · 2026-03-01

  articleOpen access

  INTRODUCTION: -adjuvanted respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prefusion F protein-based vaccine (adjuvanted RSVPreF3) for adults aged ≥60 years. The approval was expanded in June 2024 to include adults 50-59 years of age at increased risk for RSV-associated lower respiratory tract disease. In this paper, we describe the protocol of a postmarketing safety study evaluating the association between adjuvanted RSVPreF3 and new-onset Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) and atrial fibrillation (AF) among adults ≥50 years of age in the USA and provide our rationale for key methodological decisions. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The potential associations between adjuvanted RSVPreF3 and GBS, ADEM and AF will be evaluated using secondary healthcare data and the self-controlled risk interval (SCRI) design. Data from five research partners in the USA spanning August 2023 through June 2030 will be used for the conduct of yearly monitoring queries and, sample size permitting, SCRI analyses. Claims-based definitions for new-onset outcomes (first diagnosis in 365 days) are: ≥1 inpatient diagnosis for GBS and ADEM; ≥1 inpatient or ≥2 ambulatory/emergency diagnoses for AF. The primary risk and control windows are 1-42 and 43-84 days, respectively, for GBS and ADEM; and 1-8 and 9-16 days for AF. SCRI analyses for GBS and ADEM will include chart-confirmed cases. SCRI analyses for AF will adjust for the positive predictive value obtained from validation against charts. Conditional Poisson regression will be used to calculate incidence rate ratios. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Boards (IRB) of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute; WIRB-Copernicus Group, Inc and its affiliates (collectively, 'WCG'); WCG IRB, Inc; and Sterling IRB, with Federal Wide Assurance (FWA) numbers FWA00000100, FWA00033319 and FWA00025632, respectively, for all participating research partners. Study results will be shared with the US FDA and publicly disseminated through national or international clinical or scientific conferences and peer-reviewed publications. REGISTRATION: This protocol has been registered in the Heads of Medicines Agencies-European Medicines Agency Real World Data Catalogues (EUPAS1000000486).

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• Executive Summary: State-of-the-Art Review: Hepatitis C

  Clinical Infectious Diseases · 2025-08-15 · 1 citations

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Associations Between Prior and Current Unhealthy Alcohol Use and Liver Morbidity Risk and Mortality Among Veterans With a History of Hepatitis C Who Have Achieved Sustained Virological Response

  Journal of Viral Hepatitis · 2025-12-11

  article

  The degree to which alcohol use is associated with the risk of all-cause mortality and hepatic decompensation after hepatitis C (HCV) diagnosis, treatment, and cure remains unknown. We sought to address this question among patients achieving sustained virologic response (SVR) after direct-acting antiviral treatment in the largest HCV health system in the United States. We extracted data on alcohol use, HCV treatment, SVR, HIV co-infection, demographics, risk behaviours, hepatic decompensation, and mortality from all patients in the 1945 to 1965 VA Birth Cohort. Alcohol use categories were generated using responses to the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) questionnaire and diagnostic codes for alcohol use disorder (AUD): abstinent without a history of AUD, abstinent with a history of AUD, current lower-risk consumption, current moderate-risk consumption, and current high-risk consumption with or without AUD. Cox proportional hazard models were used to examine associations between alcohol category and the risk of hepatic decompensation and all-cause mortality. Among 50,581 patients in the analytic cohort, compared to current drinkers exhibiting lower risk alcohol consumption (referent), current high-risk consumption with or without AUD was associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality (aHR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.21-1.63) and hepatic decompensation (HR: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.60-2.89) as was abstinence with a history of AUD diagnosis (mortality aHR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.41-1.89; hepatic decompensation aHR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.36-2.51). AUD and high-risk alcohol consumption are associated with the risk of hepatic decompensation and all-cause mortality among Veterans who have achieved SVR, including those categorised as being currently abstinent. Interventions for alcohol consumption and use disorder among individuals treated for HCV infection may reduce morbidity and mortality in this population.

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• Early Read‐Time Performance of the <scp>OraQuick HCV</scp> Rapid Antibody Assay for the Exclusion of <scp>HCV</scp> Viremia

  Journal of Viral Hepatitis · 2025-09-04 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Rapid point-of-care tests for hepatitis C virus (HCV) provide results in 20 min and allow linkage to care, particularly for difficult-to-reach populations. Prior work suggested an early reading time of the OraQuick (OQ) rapid HCV antibody lateral flow immunoassay identified people with HCV viremia; however, these observations were not externally validated. We conducted a prospective cohort study at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center from June 2021 to August 2023 to evaluate the performance of OQ early reading times for HCV viremia among participants with reactive HCV antibody. Following test device insertion for whole blood substrate, the OQ assay was evaluated every minute from 5 to 10 min, then at 20 and 40 min. Early read time performance was evaluated against the standard of care HCV RNA. 175 participants (120 [68.6%] with detectable HCV viremia) completed the OQ assay. Among HCV viremic participants, 119 had a positive whole blood OQ by 7 min (sensitivity: 99.2% [95% confidence interval, CI: 95.4-100]; positive predictive value: 82.1% [95% CI: 74.8-87.9]); 1 viremic participant with severe immunosuppression was not identified at this early reading time. No time interval accurately identified only those with HCV viremia, yet a negative OQ test at 7 min excluded HCV viremia (negative predictive value: 96.3% [95% CI: 81.0-99.9]). A 7-min reading time for a whole blood OQ assay may reduce the need for HCV RNA testing and improve screening efficiency by identifying people without HCV viremia. Early read time results cannot be used to exclusively identify HCV viremia and should be used with caution in those with severe immunosuppression or if acute HCV infection is suspected.

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Recent grants

• Molecular & Translational Immunotechnology Core

  NIH · $36.7M · 1999–2029

• NIH Grant F32DK069080

  NIH · $131k · 2006

• NIH Grant K01AI070001

  NIH · $665k · 2012

• NIH Grant R21AI124868

  NIH · $454k · 2018

• NIH Grant R01HS018372

  NIH · $2.5M · 2016

Frequent coauthors

• Amy C. Justice

  172 shared

• Adeel A. Butt

  Hamad Medical Corporation

  118 shared

• Janet P. Tate

  Yale University

  113 shared

• Joseph K. Lim

  VA Connecticut Healthcare System

  103 shared

• Jay R. Kostman

  85 shared

• Matthew Bidwell Goetz

  University of California, Los Angeles

  75 shared

• Cynthia L. Gibert

  Veterans Health Administration

  72 shared

• David Rimland

  Veterans Health Administration

  67 shared

Awards & honors

• HIV Medicine Association Research Award (2016)
• Harold I. Feldman Distinguished Faculty Award from the Penn…
• COVID-19 Pharmacoepidemiology Research Award from the Intern…
• Fellow of the International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology…
• Harvey M. Friedman Infectious Diseases Faculty Mentoring Awa…