Active projects

This research focuses on characterizing and measuring the reproductive concerns of young adult cancer survivors, comparing reproductive concerns across gender and other characteristics, and informing strategies to reduce reproductive distress and improve quality of life for post-treatment cancer survivors. This work has been funded by the California Breast Cancer Research Program and American Cancer Society. Gorman (PI)

The goal of the project is to develop and implement a system, policy, or environmental intervention to increase awareness and acceptability of the human papillomavirus vaccine among college students at OSU. The project is in partnership with Student Health Services and uses the Community Action Model, a participatory research approach. The project is funded by the OHSU Knight Cancer Center, Community Partnership Program. Mojica (PI)

This project: 1) quantitatively explored a broad spectrum of measures capturing mental health, social health, and sexual health among transgender women residing in a relatively non-transphobic environment, and 2) qualitatively explored the contextual risk and protective behaviors relative to transgender women residing in a relatively non-transphobic environment regarding mental health, social health, and sexual health. Crosby, Garcia (MPI)

This study seeks to (1) Examine the relationships between: (a) developmental antecedents (e.g., adverse experiences in childhood/adolescence, HIV-related stigma, sexual identity development, trust), (b) PrEP awareness and adoption, and (c) PrEP-related attitudes/health beliefs (e.g., perceived health risks) among young adult MSM (YAMSM) in Portland; and (2) Describe the reach of and examine attitudes/beliefs towards current and emerging PrEP programs, including (a) venue-based linkage-to-care programs in Portland, (b) existing Internet-based systems, and (c) innovative PrEP programming (e.g., event-driven PrEP, over-the-counter PrEP, tele-medicine). This research funded by the Hallie Ford Center for Healthy Children and Families. Garcia (PI), Catania and Dolcini (Co-Is)

In this project we are developing a Latin American telenovela (soap opera) intervention based on critical consciousness theory to train young Latinx allies to combat social isolation experienced by their LGBTQ peers. Our approach prioritizes making health a shared value by: (1) Collaborating with Latinx LGBTQ youth to co-create a telenovela toolkit to train allies to combat social isolation, and (2) Piloting the adapted intervention among Latinx youth in the Outreach Leadership Institute operated by 4-H at OSU. This unique and culturally appropriate Latin American medium allows us to extend the culture of health to communities throughout Oregon using 4-H programs, rather than relying solely on formal school contexts. Our program will overcome challenges presented by the social environment that further isolates Latinxs, immigrants, especially those in rural areas and small towns in the U.S. This project is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (PI: Garcia).

Engaging the Next Latinx Allies for Change and Equity (ENLACE)

This multi-year project, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, examined barriers and facilitators of Oral self-implemented HIV testing performance fidelity and training acquisition among African-American men-who-have-sex-with-men age 17-24 and residing in low-income areas of Chicago, Illinois. This study addresses the role of performance fidelity in observed variations in test sensitivity and specificity. Catania (PI), Dolcini (Co-I)

The goals of this community-engaged research project are to 1) adapt and implement a mindfulness-based intervention to support women experiencing body image and sexual health difficulties after cancer, 2) assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of the program among breast and gynecologic cancer survivors; and 3) establish a strategy to sustain the program over the longer term based on feedback from stakeholders across Oregon. The project has been funded by the OHSU Knight Community Partnership Program. Gorman (PI)

As many as two-thirds of women diagnosed with breast or gynecologic cancers during young adulthood experience negative effects of cancer and cancer treatment on their reproductive and sexual health. These are among the most distressing, yet under-addressed, aspects of survivorship for young couples. Using a mixed methods design, this study will evaluate whether a coping and communication intervention for young survivors and their partners that has been adapted to address common concerns about reproductive and sexual health leads to greater improvements in outcomes than the original evidence-based intervention. This study is funded by the American Cancer Society. Gorman (PI), Harvey (Co-I)

This project is an exploratory, qualitative study with transgender/gender diverse cancer survivors and members of their support system to learn about 1) Experiences navigating cancer-related stressors and type of support received/needed, 2) Experiences navigating health systems, health decisions, and health care before and after cancer, with a focus on reproductive and sexual health, and 3) Possible intervention strategies to support them and their partners/support systems after cancer. Gorman (PI), Garcia (Co-I)

This multi-year project, funded by the National Institute of Child & Human Development, is examining strategies to improve performance of self-implemented Oral-HIV testing among high-risk youth in Tanzania. Based on a randomized clinical trial this study compares two training strategies utilizing low technology and literacy methods that have application to Tanzanian youth age 15-22 yrs. residing in low-income areas of Dar es Salaam. Catania (PI), Dolcini (Co-I)

This multi-year project, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, will develop an intervention to increase the uptake of no-cost Oral Self-Implemented HIV testing (Oral-SIT) and facilitate Oral-SIT distribution through LGBTQ businesses, cultural events and community-based organizations in Portland, Ore. This approach, guided by the Push-Pull Infrastructure Model, addresses barriers to venue-based testing and poor Oral-SIT retail sales.