The RISE Lab

Active Projects

The CARES study's goal is to test the ability of small grants and/or peer support to improve mental health among transgender people experiencing material hardship. The main questions the study will answer are:

Do microgrants with or without peer mentoring improve mental health?
Do microgrants with or without peer mentoring improve mental health by reducing material hardship and/or increasing a sense of community connection?

Jabula Uzibone

Jabula Uzibone is an implementation science study seeking to evaluate the effect of transgender-specific differentiated HIV prevention and care service delivery on viral suppression and PrEP adherence among a cohort of transgender adults in South Africa.

Wits RHI Trans Health Centre Facebook Page

LITE Plus

The study includes a multisite, longitudinal cohort of transgender women living with HIV in Boston, MA, New York, NY and Washington, DC metropolitan areas to assess relationships between experiences of intersectional stigma, allostatic load, and mental health and cardiovascular disease outcomes.

Publications:

Effects of Race and Gender Classifications on Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Estimates for Clinical Decision-Making in a Cohort of Black Transgender Women

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Estimation for Transgender and Gender-Diverse Patients: Cross-Sectional Analysis of Baseline Data From the LITE Plus Cohort Study

Biopsychosocial Mechanisms Linking Gender Minority Stress to HIV Comorbidities Among Black and Latina Transgender Women (LITE Plus): Protocol for a Mixed Methods Longitudinal Study

Meeting the Pandemic Needs of Black Lesbian Elders: Data to Inform a Rapid COVID-19 Response Intervention

This project aims to develop a regional transgender health research and education collaborative in southern states comprising racially and ethnically diverse transgender and gender non-binary (TNB) individuals, providers, researchers, and other stakeholders; build the capacity of the TNB community and stakeholders to engage meaningfully in partnered research; and develop or adapt existing tools, curriculum, and resources prioritized by the collaborative to support trans resiliencies, resources, and empowerment in healthcare.

Publications:

Caregiving During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study with Older Cisgender Sexual Minority Women in the United States

Caregiving among Older Black Same-Gender-Loving Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from Qualitative Research

HPTN 091: Integrating HIV Prevention, Gender-Affirmative Medical Care, and Peer Health Navigation to Prevent HIV Acquisition and HIV Transmission for Transgender Women

This feasibility and acceptability study is designed to assess the preliminary efficacy of integrating gender-affirming medical care with HIV services and strength-based peer case management in four locations in the United States and Latin America.

Learn more.

TRANSnetwork

Completed Projects

Feasibility of Reaching Trans-Attracted Men

The project explores the feasibility of recruiting and engaging men who have sex with transgender women in HIV research and intervention programs in Atlanta and Baltimore.

Publications:

HIV Prevention Among Cisgender Men Who have Sex with Transgender Women

Understanding HIV risk and vulnerability among cisgender men with transgender partners

A Mixed-Methods Approach to Identify Intervenable Factors Associated with Breast Cancer Screening and Follow-up for Black Sexual Minority Women

This proposal investigates breast cancer screening behaviors and timing of follow-up after abnormal results for Black sexual minority women. By using a mixed-methods approach to understand barriers and facilitators to screening and follow-up care after an abnormal screening result, the findings will inform interventions to reduce disparities in breast cancer among Black sexual minority women.

Publications:

Engaging Black sexual minority women in breast cancer research: Lessons in community partnerships

Delays in breast cancer care by race and sexual orientation: Results from a national survey with diverse women in the United States

Beyond Black and White: race and sexual identity as contributors to healthcare system distrust after breast cancer screening among US women

"This is some mess right here": Exploring interactions between Black sexual minority women and health care providers for breast cancer screening and care

Breast Cancer Screening and Care Among Black Sexual Minority Women: A Scoping Review of the Literature from 1990 to 2017

TRANSforming the Carolinas

The formative study aims to identify and prioritize community-driven interventions to address gaps in HIV prevention and care for transgender people of color in North and South Carolina.

Publications:

Intersectional Structural Stigma, Community Priorities, and Opportunities for Transgender Health Equity: Findings from TRANSforming the Carolinas

Transgender Women Mobilizing and Preparing for High Impact Prevention

This research project aims to identify actionable barriers and facilitators of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake and adherence for transgender women in South Africa.

Publications:

PrEP awareness and engagement among transgender women in South Africa: a cross-sectional, mixed methods study

HIV prevalence and behavioral and psychosocial factors among transgender women and cisgender men who have sex with men in 8 African countries: A cross-sectional analysis