The research was specifically focused on individuals who are having sex with men as they are at the highest risk.[11] During this time, she also served as chair of the NIH Office of AIDS Research Advisory Council.[2] In 2015, Hillier and Lisa Rohan conducted and concluded the first human clinical trials for antiretroviral containing vaginal film products intended to prevent HIV infection.[12] She also sat on the editorial boards of Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reviews in Contemporary Pharmacotherapy, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Anaerobe.[4] In 2019, Hillier was the recipient of the Pittsburgh Women who Rock Award from the UPMC Health Plan and UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital.[13]