Skip to content

Projects

Lab Projects

Active Projects

  • Australian and US Perspectives on an Intervention Integrating New HIV Insights with Stigma Reduction [Fulbright Future Scholarship/Fulbright US Scholar Program]
    • One-year qualitative interview study with healthcare providers and sexual minority men with HIV that aims to advance understanding of providers' training needs related to U=U communication and HIV stigma
  • Development of an HIV Status-Neutral Video Intervention to Reduce Stigma and Promote U=U and PrEP Among Sexual and Gender Minority DC Community Members [DC CFAR/P30-AI117970]
    • One-year mixed methods project that aims to develop and evaluate a brief video intervention to reduce HIV stigma and support access to HIV biomedical prevention knowledge and resources among sexual and gender minority DC community members
  • Exploring Patient and Provider Perspectives on New HIV Biomedical Prevention and Treatment Options to Support Equitable Access [GWU University Facilitating Fund]
    • One-year qualitative study with healthcare providers and patients that aims to explore attitudes, experiences, and patient-provider communication related to new HIV biomedical prevention options

Completed Projects

  • U=U & Stigma Project (How Messaging About the Latest HIV Breakthrough (U=U) Impacts HIV-Related Stigma [GWU CCAS Nick-of-Time Impact Microgrant])
    • Two-year quantitative survey study that aimed to examine how messaging about “undetectable=untransmittable” (U=U, i.e., that sustained viral suppression inhibits the sexual transmission of HIV) affects HIV stigma
  • PrEP'ing for Health Project (Intervention to Promote PrEP Awareness and Equitable Prescription Among Providers [K01-MH103080])
    • Four-year mixed-methods project that aimed to (a) identify barriers and biases related to PrEP prescription among providers and (b) develop and evaluate a CME program integrating PrEP education with cultural competence training
  • PrEP'ing DC Project (Optimizing PrEP Social Marketing to Black MSM in DC to Raise Awareness and Uptake [DC CFAR/P30-AI117970])
    • ​Two-year mixed-methods pilot project that aimed to evaluate and improve PrEP social marketing materials to maximize their effectiveness in promoting PrEP uptake among Black MSM in DC while minimizing stigmatization of Black MSM sexuality
  • PrEP'ing Planned Parenthood Project (Expanding Women’s Reproductive Health Options in Small Urban Areas: Development and Evaluation of a Clinical Implementation Program to Integrate HIV Biomedical Prevention into Reproductive Health Services [Yale University Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS/P30-MH062294])
    • Two-year mixed-methods pilot project that aimed to develop and evaluate a program integrating biomedical HIV prevention into women’s reproductive healthcare, including a web-based video approach to introducing PrEP to clients

Student Projects

Djordje Modrakovic

  • The Moderating Impact of Minority Stress on the Association Between Adherence to Norms of Masculinity and Psychological Well-Being in a Diverse Sample of Gay Male Emerging Adults (Master's thesis/2nd-year project)
    • Online survey study of 207 culturally diverse gay men aiming to (a) define the impact of adherence to norms of masculinity on psychological well-being of gay men, (b) identify moderating effects of minority stress on the association between adherence to norms of masculinity and mental well-being, and (c) formulate recommendations for promoting mental well-being among young gay men in light of findings
    • Funded by New York University Abu Dhabi and developed at George Washington University

Sharanya Rao

  • Intersections of Sexual Orientation and Race/Ethnicity: Discrimination and Disparities in Women's Healthcare Utilization (Master's thesis/2nd-year project)
    • Quantitative project that aims to (a) examine disparities in healthcare utilization by women of different sexual orientations and races and (b) test whether experiences of everyday discrimination and stigma within healthcare settings account for identified disparities
    • Funded by the Yale Center of Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS as part of the PrEP'ing Planned Parenthood Project
  • “You are Illegal in Your Own Country”: The Perceived Impact of Anti-Sodomy Legislation among Indian Sexual Minorities 
    • Qualitative project exploring the perceived impact of Section 377 (a now unconstitutional anti-sodomy law in India) across genders (i.e., men, women, and non-binary individuals) within a sample of sexual minority individuals living in India 
    • Funded by a Psi Chi research grant as part of a larger study on minority stress and well-being of Indian sexual minorities 

Mehrit Tekeste

  • Differences in Medical Mistrust Between Black and White Women: Implications for Patient-Provider Communication About PrEP (Master's thesis/2nd-year project)
  • Quantitative cross-sectional study exploring (a) race-based differences in PrEP interest and intention among women and (b) the indirect association between race and comfort discussing PrEP with a healthcare provider through medical mistrust
  • Funded by the Yale Center of Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS as part of the PrEP'ing Planned Parenthood Project

Brittany Wilbourn

  • Assessing Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Screening and Need among Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender Persons of Color: A Mixed Methods Case Study of the IMPACT DMV Demonstration Project (Dissertation)
    • Mixed methods case study of the IMPACT DMV Demonstration Project that aims to (a) describe PrEP screening, need, and clinic-level implementation with men who have sex with men and transgender persons of color in the DC Metro Area and (b) explore how the varying contexts and implementation strategies of the clinics impact PrEP screening and PrEP uptake
    • Funded by a Surgeon General C. Everett Koop HIV/AIDS research grant
Print Friendly, PDF & Email