Nicole T. Padilla

Nicole Padilla, MD, MS, is an adjunct faculty member at the University of San Francisco with a background in medicine, clinical research, and public health. Her work has focused on HIV and infectious diseases, substance use, and health disparities among underserved and vulnerable populations. Prior to joining USF, she conducted clinical and translational research at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), contributing to studies spanning HIV prevention and pathogenesis, substance use, and clinical trials.

Dr. Padilla earned her medical degree in Mexico and a Master of Science in Advanced Clinical Research from UCSF. Her research interests include the intersection of HIV, substance use, social and structural determinants of health, and interventions designed to improve outcomes among populations experiencing health inequities. At USF, she brings her clinical and research experience into the classroom, with an emphasis on connecting foundational biological sciences to human health and clinical practice.

• Clinical research
• HIV/AIDS and infectious diseases
• Substance use and addiction
• Epidemiology and biostatistics
• Community-based health research

• HIV/AIDS and infectious diseases
• Substance use and addiction
• Health disparities and vulnerable populations
• Clinical and translational research
• Global health

• Adjunct Faculty, Department of Biology, University of San Francisco (2026-Present)

• UC San Francisco, MS in Epidemiological and Translational Science, 2025
• Universidad Justo Sierra, Mexico City, MD, 2017

• Clinical Research Coordinator, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) — 2024–2026
• Assistant Clinical Research Coordinator, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) — 2022–2024
• Clinical Researcher, HIV & Infectious Diseases, UCSF — 2022–2024
• Primary Care Physician, Rural Community Clinic, Mexico — 2016–2017

• Padilla NT, Cai X, Herrera R, Rosbe K, Tugizov SM. Breast milk lacking anti-human immunodeficiency virus activity promotes exocytosis of HIV from the mother's mammary epithelium and transcytosis of virus via… Virology. 2025.
• Cai X, Padilla NT, Rosbe K, Tugizov SM. Breast milk induces the differentiation of monocytes into macrophages, promoting human cytomegalovirus infection. Journal of Virology. 2024.
• Lien K, Mayer W, Herrera R, Padilla NT, et al. HIV-1 proteins gp120 and tat promote epithelial-mesenchymal transition and invasiveness of HPV-positive and HPV-negative neoplastic genital and oral epithelial cells. Microbiology Spectrum. 2022.