David Chang, Ph.D.

David Chang, Ph.D., is a Senior Science Advisor and the acting leader of the Science Team at the NIH Office of AIDS Research (OAR). In this role, he leads the OAR team that provides technical and scientific expertise in support of the office’s efforts to shape NIH HIV research priorities and coordinate HIV research across the agency.

Dr. Chang joined OAR in 2023, bringing significant experience in preclinical vaccine development and HIV molecular epidemiology. In addition to his current role leading the OAR Science Team, Dr. Chang supports coordination of the NIH-wide HIV research portfolio and provides scientific and programmatic leadership in priority research areas. He leads the OAR HIV and Aging Signature Program, which aims to advance research to identify and address the long-term health needs of people aging with HIV, including older adults with HIV and lifetime and long-term survivors. Dr. Chang also leads the OAR Early Career Investigators program to support the next generation of HIV researchers by providing resources on the NIH grant application and review processes and networking opportunities.

Before joining OAR, Dr. Chang served as a Scientific Review Officer at the NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the NIH Center for Scientific Review (CSR).

Previously, Dr. Chang worked in the biotechnology sector on preclinical viral vaccine development before earning his Ph.D. from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, where his research focused on HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins, broadly neutralizing antibodies, and disease progression. He then served as a research scientist with the U.S. Military HIV Research Program at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, investigating HIV molecular epidemiology in Asia and Africa and contributing to studies of viral genetics and central nervous system compartmentalization during acute HIV infection.