Lauretta E Grau PhD
Associate Research Scientist in Epidemiology (Microbial Diseases)
Research Interests
Health psychology; HIV prevention
Extensive Research Description
Dr. Grau is a clinical psychologist with training in health psychology and has expertise in identifying the cognitive and emotional correlates of risk and preventive health behaviors. She has been involved in the field of HIV prevention research for over fifteen years and has been working with syringe exchange programs for almost a decade. Dr. Grau has conducted multisite, longitudinal evaluations of syringe exchange programs, including a feasibility and cost-effectiveness study of offering hepatitis vaccination through syringe exchanges. She also has experience in HIV and hepatitis prevention research with sexually active adolescents, minority and drug using populations, and most recently with older populations. In addition, she has led women’s support groups at the local syringe exchanges. On a broader level, Dr. Grau is interested in research that will result in the development and implementation of individual, family- and community-based harm reduction interventions.
Selected Publications
- Heimer, R., Grau, L.E., Khoshnood, K., and Singer, M. Should HIV Testing Programs for Urban Injection Drug Users be expanded? American Journal of Public Health, in press.
- Grau, L.E., Bluthenthal, R.N., Marshall, P., Singer, M., and Heimer, R. Psychosocial and Behavioral Differences among Drug Injectors Who Use and Do Not Use Syringe Exchange Programs. AIDS and Behavior 9(4): 495-504, 2005.
- Bluthenthal, R.N., Malik, R., Grau, L, Singer, M., Marshall, P., and Heimer, R. Sterile Syringe Access Conditions and Variations in HIV Risk among Drug Injectors in Three Cities. Addiction 99: 1136-1146, 2004.
- Grau, L.E., Arevalo, S., Catchpool, C., and Heimer, R. Expanded Harm Reduction Services via Wound and Abscess Clinic. American Journal of Public Health 12: 1915-1917, 2002.
- Heimer, R., Clair, S., Grau, L.E., Bluthenthal, R.N., Marshall, P.A., and Singer, M. Hepatitis-associated Knowledge is Low and Risks are High among HIV-aware Injection Drug Users in Three U.S. Cities. Addiction 97: 1277-1287, 2002.
