George A. Yendewa, MD, MPH&TM, FACP, FIDSA
Associate Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine
Attending Physician, Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Principal Investigator, Case Clinical Trials Unit
Co-Director, Rustbelt CFAR Clinical Core
Research Information
Research Projects
Dr. Yendewa’s research focuses on the clinical and molecular epidemiology of HIV, viral hepatitis, and related coinfections, with a particular emphasis on HIV/HBV and HIV/HCV coinfection. His work examines the long-term clinical consequences of these infections, including chronic liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma, immune activation, cardiometabolic complications, aging-related outcomes, and mortality.
Dr. Yendewa serves as Principal Investigator of the NIH-funded Case Clinical Trials Unit, which includes the Case CRS in Cleveland, the University of Cincinnati CRS, and the Joint Clinical Research Centre CRS in Kampala, Uganda, within the AIDS Clinical Trials Group network. He also serves as CRS Leader for the Case CRS and as an investigator in the ACTG Hepatitis Transformative Science Group. In these roles, he leads and supports clinical trials focused on HIV, viral hepatitis, and related infectious diseases.
As Co-Director of the Rustbelt CFAR Clinical Core, Dr. Yendewa supports access to clinical cohorts, biospecimens, research infrastructure, and mentorship for HIV investigators across Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals, and collaborating institutions.
His research also addresses global health and implementation science, including strategies to improve HIV and hepatitis prevention, screening, linkage to care, and treatment outcomes in the United States and internationally. He has ongoing collaborations in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Uganda, with projects focused on HIV, HBV, HCV, tuberculosis, emerging infections, and the social, cultural, economic, and behavioral determinants of infectious disease outcomes.
A major focus of Dr. Yendewa’s work is understanding how stigma, social vulnerability, healthcare access, and structural barriers influence HIV and viral hepatitis outcomes. Through clinical trials, cohort studies, implementation research, and global partnerships, his work aims to improve prevention, treatment, and long-term outcomes for people affected by HIV, viral hepatitis, and related infections globally.