Featured Research Projects

The Adolescent Responses to COVID-19 (ARC) study aims to examine adolescents' patterns of social connectedness during the COVID-19 pandemic and impacts on adolescent mental health through a mobile app and smartwatch.

Peer-based HIV Self-testing among Women Who Inject or Use Drugs in Kazakhstan, Central Asia

The aim of this study is to assess acceptability, feasibility, preliminary efficacy and cost of a peer-based HIV self-testing intervention to increase consistent HIV testing among women who exchange sex and inject drugs in Kazakhstan.

Advancing Solutions in Policy, Implementation, Research, and Engagement for Refugees

ASPIRE is a multidisciplinary program of activities at Columbia University dedicated to innovative approaches and responses to the Syrian Refugee crisis.

Promoting HIV and STI awareness among sexual and gender minorities in Kazakhstan

Improving HIV Service Delivery for People who Inject Drugs in Kazakhstan

Implementation research of a peer driven HIV testing and linkage to HIV treatment intervention that was implemented in 24 NGOs in 4 cities in Kazakhstan.

Expand the capacity of the social service workforce and competencies utilized in the social services field in Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Researching reoccuring bacterial vaginosis (BV) in partnership with the NYC DOHMH

Optimizing Study Design to Test a Community-level Intervention to Reduce Intersectional Stigma and Increase HIV Testing and Prevention among African-American/Black MSM

The major goal of the study is to design and evaluate a community-level anti-intersectional stigma intervention to increase access to and uptake of HIV testing, prevention and treatment in communities of color.

Couples-based HIV/STI preventive intervention for illicit drug-involved men who have sex with men (MSM) in New York City.

Couples-Based HIV/STI Prevention for African American MSM, Transgender and HIV discordant couples

Dissemination project of couples-based HIV prevention with men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender, and HIV discordant couples.

CONNECT HIP has been identified by the CDC as an effective intervention.

COVID-19 Impact on Substance Use Policies aims to loosen federal regulations for addiction services delivery during COVID-19 and generate data to inform post-emergency policy-making.

Supporting Children, Families and Communities

The Criminal Justice Initiative (CJI) addresses the societal impacts of the unprecedented numbers of people incarcerated during the past three decades, many of whom also face significant challenges upon returning home. Learn more about continuing research in this area in the T32 program and at The Center for Justice.

Multimedia HIV/STI Intervention for Black Drug-Involved Women on Probation in New York City

Randomized clinical trial testing the efficacy of a multimedia intervention and streamlined HIV testing to prevent HIV and other STIs.

Promotes research, training and education activities related to health and mental health globally

The HEALing Communities Study (HCS) is a research study aimed to reduce opioid and overdose deaths across New York State by 40% in three years. Launched by NIH, the HEAL (Helping to End Addiction Long-term^SM) Initiative is an aggressive, trans-agency effort to speed scientific solutions to stem the national opioid public health crisis.

Human centered approaches to detection, prevention and mitigation of urban-based violence on social media.

Qualitative and social media content-analysis study of violence and trauma on various social  media platforms. Learn about continuing research in this area at the SafeLab.

Sociostructural drivers of substance use, violence and HIV/STI transmission among high risk females who inject drugs in Tijuana

This study with high risk females who inject drugs in Tijuana, combines detailed information on the physical characteristics of venues (e.g. type, policies, safety) where sex and drug use occur, with data on venue network affiliations (i.e. individuals' network connections to multiple venues), to elucidate the sociostructural drivers of substance use, violence and HIV/STI transmission. 

A behavioral intervention for Black men who have sex with men and live with HIV to address intersectional stigma and improve antiretroviral therapy adherence.

Crowdsourcing to Reduce HIV Stigma & Increase Adolescent & Young Adult HIV testing

Identifying Novel Behavioral Targets for Improving Sleep: A Self-Regulation Model

Observational community study aims to examine whether sleep is associated with self-regulation in Latino adults, and if this association is the same across socioeconomic status (SES) groups. Learn about continuing research in this area at Sleep, Mind, and Health.

Evaluating a Microfinance Intervention for High Risk Women in Kazakhstan

NOVA was a structural HIV program (HIV and micro finance) with female sex workers in Kazakhstan.

Reducing Intersectional and HIV Stigma among High Risk Women who use Drugs in Kazakhstan, Central Asia: A Multilevel Stigma Resistance and Enacted Stigma Reduction Intervention for Women and Providers

Estimating the Impact of a Multilevel, Multicomponent Intervention to Increase Uptake of HIV Testing and Biomedical HIV Prevention among African-American/Black Gay, Bisexual and Same-gender Loving Men

Couples STI/HIV Prevention for Drug & Justice- Involved Men in New York City

Randomized clinical trial testing the implementation, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of a couple-based HIV and drug misuse prevention intervention with drug- and justice-involved men.

An effectiveness trial of WINGS and PrEP: a syndemic mHealth intervention to increase PrEP uptake among women impacted by heavy alcohol use and partner violence in the criminal legal system

Couple-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence intervention for people who inject drugs in Kazakhstan

The aim of this study is to develop a couples-based intervention to improve HIV medication adherence among HIV-positive people who inject drugs, which should increase viral suppression and reduce transmission of HIV.

Increasing Involvement of men who have sex with men in the Continuum of Care in Kazakhstan

Stepped-Wedge trial in three cities in Kazakhstan (Almaty, Astana, and Shymkent) testing the efficacy of peer-driven intervention designed to increase the number of MSM in the HIV continuum of care.

Read more about UNI.

Developing social work field in Uzbekistan

The Uzbekistan Social Work Education for Excellence Project (USWEEP) is a collaboration between UNICEF, the Columbia University School of Social Work (CSSW), the Social Intervention Group (SIG), and the Uzbekistan National Team (NT) to develop social work as part of academic programs, deliver in-service trainings, and adapt evidence-based interventions.

Read more about USWEEP's launch.

Computerized service tool to address partner abuse among women in drug court

Development and pilot randomized clinical trial testing a self-paced computerized multimedia tool on identification of victimization from intimate partner violence (IPV) and on utilization of IPV-related services. The WINGS intervention has been adapted and is available here.

WORTH Transitions is a Multimedia HIV/STI Prevention Intervention App for Justice-Involved Women

Randomized multi-site, implementation trial testing the efficacy of a risk reduction, trauma informed, intervention for drug-involved, incarcerated women being released and linked to health care clinic follow-up.