Cathryn Samples' work focuses on HIV infection and risk in adolescents and young adults. The goals of her research are to develop more successful approaches to the prevention of HIV and other conditions related to sexual activity, to improve HIV case finding and risk reduction among youth, and to improve the treatment and care of HIV among youth, whether recently infected or long term survivors of perinatal HIV infection. She is also interested in community based research aimed at reducing risk among urban youth.

She is Clinical Director of the Boston HAPPENS Program, which provides HIV care and support to youth ages 12-24 years. In addition this program offers HIV counseling and testing, as well as education and technical assistance to community based organizations, working with youth.

Dr. Samples is Principal Investigator of the Boston Unit of the Adolescent Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions (ATN), a 15-site multicenter NIH-funded research network focusing on research interventions to improve treatment, care, adherence and prevention for HIV-infected youth, and youth at risk. Current projects include studies of: metabolic consequences of HIV and HAART; structured treatment interruption; serosurveillance among youth at risk; and behavioral interventions, aimed at both primary and secondary prevention. She is also an investigator with the Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group Unit at the Children's Hospital, Boston AIDS Program.