Partnerships in HIV and Substance Use Research with Community-Informed eXpertise

The goal of the Partnerships in HIV and Substance Use Research with Community-Informed eXpertise (PHOENIX) lab is to drive transformative research to address unhealthy substance use (particularly tobacco, alcohol, and opioid) among persons affected by and at risk for HIV in collaboration with clinical, community, public health, and academic-based partners.

Guided by perspectives of individuals with lived experience, our research is rooted in evidence-based practices, community-engaged approaches, and implementation science principles to optimize the relevance, impact, and sustainability of our work. Additionally, we are committed to fostering the development of future interdisciplinary researchers and leaders.

Our research seeks to answer questions such as:

• What are the harms of prescription opioids among persons with HIV?
• How does unhealthy alcohol use impact HIV PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) uptake and adherence?
• How can we help persons with HIV stop smoking when combining smoking cessation medications and contingency management (use of rewards)?
• How can we help persons with opioid use disorder take PrEP with contingency management?
• What is the best strategy to engage persons with untreated alcohol use disorder into treatment post-hospitalization?
• How can we ensure our strategies are appropriate, effective, and accessible, particularly for persons impacted by adverse social determinants of health (e.g., food insecurity, lower health literacy, transportation challenges)?