Health economist Omar Galarraga is working to improve the quality of life, delay progression towards AIDS, reduce risk of transmission, and limit proliferation of drug-resistant HIV by addressing the challenges faced by adolescents living with HIV in adhering to their antiretroviral therapy (ART). Since there are few behavioral interventions specifically tailored for adolescents on ART, Galarraga is developing adolescent-patient-centered conditional economic incentives in order for participating recipients to experience the immediate benefits of a positive health behavior rather than the weaker reward of improved health in the distant future and to begin to develop ideal health habits. He is conducting this project in South Africa, the country with the largest HIV epidemic and the largest number of HIV-positive adolescents. Read articles from his research here and here.