Roman Shrestha, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor AdjunctCards
About
Titles
Assistant Professor Adjunct
Biography
Dr. Shrestha is an Assistant Professor Adjunct at the Yale School of Medicine’s AIDS program. He is the Principal Investigator on the National Institute of Health funded K01 (NIDA: K01DA051346), R21 (NIDA: R21DA051934), and R21/R33 (FIC: R21TW011665) awards. His research has largely centered on enhancing the design, delivery, and placement of interventions that integrates evidence-based behavioral approach, biomedical components, and innovative use of mHealth strategies, aimed at improving health outcomes and the quality of life of underserved populations. Specifically, he is interested in syndemics of health issues that have profound implications for access to and utilization of healthcare services and overall HIV prevention efforts in a range of settings, including community and healthcare, addiction treatment, and criminal justice settings, both domestically and internationally. His current work focuses on reducing the HIV epidemic that disproportionately affects socioeconomically disadvantaged (i.e., drug users) and sexual minority group (i.e., men who have sex with men) using mHealth technologies as an innovative platform to scale-up prevention efforts.
Appointments
Infectious Diseases
Assistant Professor AdjunctPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Clinical & Community Research (YCCR)
- Infectious Diseases
- Internal Medicine
- mHealth Research and Innovation Lab
Education & Training
- Postdoctoral Research Associate
- University of Connecticut (2019)
- PhD
- University of Connecticut, Public Health (2017)
- MPH
- University of Connecticut, Public Health (2013)
Research
Publications
2024
Adaptation of a Theory-Based Mobile App to Improve Access to HIV Prevention Services for Transgender Women in Malaysia: Focus Group Study
Gautam K, Shrestha R, Dlamini S, Razali B, Paudel K, Azwa I, Saifi R, Toh Y, Lim H, Sutherland R, Restar A, Phanuphak N, Wickersham J. Adaptation of a Theory-Based Mobile App to Improve Access to HIV Prevention Services for Transgender Women in Malaysia: Focus Group Study. JMIR Formative Research 2024, 8: e56250. PMID: 39137407, PMCID: PMC11350319, DOI: 10.2196/56250.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHIV prevention servicesTransgender womenFocus groupsPrEP uptakePreventive servicesCare servicesHIV preventionFG sessionsBarriers to PrEP uptakeUptake of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxisHIV pre-exposure prophylaxisTailored HIV preventionMobile appsReduce HIV vulnerabilityPre-exposure prophylaxisFocus group studyPrEP knowledgeTheater testingDedoose softwareMobile healthMultifaceted barriersDeliver interventionsHIV vulnerabilityPrEP barriersWomen's needsFACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ACTIVE AMPHETAMINE-TYPE STIMULANT USE AMONG MALAYSIAN TRANSGENDER WOMEN
JadKarim L, Shrestha R, Galka J, Azwa I, Razali N, Restar A, Gautam K, Wickersham J. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ACTIVE AMPHETAMINE-TYPE STIMULANT USE AMONG MALAYSIAN TRANSGENDER WOMEN. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2024, 260: 110037. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110037.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchIMPACT OF IMPAIRED COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING AMONG PERSONS ON MEDICATION FOR OPIOID USE DISORDER
Mistler C, Copenhaver M, Shrestha R, Gunstad J. IMPACT OF IMPAIRED COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING AMONG PERSONS ON MEDICATION FOR OPIOID USE DISORDER. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2024, 260: 110039. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110039.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchT73 Application of the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) to Optimize HIV Prevention Targeting People on Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) who Have Cognitive Dysfunction: A Study Protocol
Copenhaver M, Mistler C, Shrestha R. T73 Application of the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) to Optimize HIV Prevention Targeting People on Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) who Have Cognitive Dysfunction: A Study Protocol. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2024, 260: 110522. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110522.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchIntegrated online-to-offline (O2O) model of care for HIV prevention and treatment among men who have sex with men in Malaysia: Protocol for an Intervention Development and a Multiphase Trial (Preprint)
Khati A, Gautam K, Wickersham J, Paudel K, Phiphatkhunarnon P, Lim S, Puniamurthy K, Altice F, Phanuphak N, Azwa I, Shrestha R. Integrated online-to-offline (O2O) model of care for HIV prevention and treatment among men who have sex with men in Malaysia: Protocol for an Intervention Development and a Multiphase Trial (Preprint). JMIR Research Protocols 2024 DOI: 10.2196/60962.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPrevalence of common risk factors of major noncommunicable diseases among sexual and gender minorities in Kathmandu valley, Nepal
Poudel B, Paudel K, Adhikari B, Paudel R, Bhusal S, Adhikari N, Adhikari T, Sapkota V, Shrestha R. Prevalence of common risk factors of major noncommunicable diseases among sexual and gender minorities in Kathmandu valley, Nepal. Medicine 2024, 103: e37746. PMID: 38579035, PMCID: PMC10994461, DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000037746.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNCD risk factorsPrevalence of NCD risk factorsNoncommunicable diseasesRisk factorsAlcohol consumptionSTEP wise approachTargeted health interventionsFace-to-face interviewsCross-sectional studyGender minoritiesInsufficient fruitStatistical Package for Social SciencesVegetable consumptionChronic respiratory diseasesSnowball sampling methodHealth interventionsCurrent smokingFace-to-faceAnthropometric measurementsMarital statusEmployment statusParticipant ageStructured questionnaireWise approachGlobal deathsExploring Attitudes Toward Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention Prior to Implementation Among Female Sex Workers in Malaysia: Results from a Qualitative Study
Foley S, Keene D, Shrestha R, Brown S, Gautam K, Sutherland R, Maviglia F, Saifi R, Wickersham J. Exploring Attitudes Toward Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention Prior to Implementation Among Female Sex Workers in Malaysia: Results from a Qualitative Study. Patient Preference And Adherence 2024, 18: 797-807. PMID: 38595805, PMCID: PMC11003429, DOI: 10.2147/ppa.s413423.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchFemale sex workersPre-exposure prophylaxisHIV preventionFSWs’ willingnessMethod of HIV preventionSex workersAcceptability of PrEPHIV prevention practicesPrevention of HIV transmissionGrounded theory approachSemi-structured interviewsCondom promotionPrEP usePrEP rolloutPrevention practicesTranslated interviewsEmpowerment componentsQualitative studyHarm reductionHIV transmissionOral PrEPPerceived challengesPrEPCondom useQualitative explorationPreferences for mHealth Intervention to Address Mental Health Challenges Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Nepal: Qualitative Study
Gautam K, Aguilar C, Paudel K, Dhakal M, Wickersham J, Acharya B, Sapkota S, Deuba K, Shrestha R. Preferences for mHealth Intervention to Address Mental Health Challenges Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Nepal: Qualitative Study. JMIR Human Factors 2024, 11: e56002. PMID: 38551632, PMCID: PMC11015371, DOI: 10.2196/56002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHigher methadone dose at time of release from prison predicts linkage to maintenance treatment for people with HIV and opioid use disorder transitioning to the community in Malaysia
Ahmad A, Bromberg D, Shrestha R, Salleh N, Bazazi A, Kamarulzaman A, Shenoi S, Altice F. Higher methadone dose at time of release from prison predicts linkage to maintenance treatment for people with HIV and opioid use disorder transitioning to the community in Malaysia. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2024, 126: 104369. PMID: 38484531, PMCID: PMC11056294, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104369.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMethadone maintenance treatmentNational Institute of Drug AbuseMethadone dosePost-releaseOpioid dependenceMaintenance treatmentMethadone maintenance treatment doseHigher doses of methadoneProspective trialsHighest methadone dosagePost-release outcomesHigher methadone dosesMalaysia’s largest prison.Levels of depressionTreatment of opioid use disorderMonths of releaseDose of methadoneOpioid use disorderLargest prisonHigher dosageIncarcerated peopleIncarceration periodUse disorderMethadone dosageTime-to-event analysisDigital health interventions for suicide prevention among LGBTQ: A narrative review
Paudel K, Gautam K, Bhandari P, Shah S, Wickersham J, Acharya B, Sapkota S, Adhikari S, Baral P, Shrestha A, Shrestha R. Digital health interventions for suicide prevention among LGBTQ: A narrative review. Health Prospect 2024, 23: 1-10. PMID: 38645301, PMCID: PMC11027749, DOI: 10.3126/hprospect.v23i1.62795.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDigital health interventionsMcGill Mixed Methods Appraisal ToolRandomized controlled trialsDigital interventionsHealth interventionsSuicide preventionHealth servicesQualitative studyMixed Methods Appraisal ToolIncrease help-seeking behaviorImpact of digital interventionsConventional health servicesMethods Appraisal ToolHelp-seeking intentionsObtaining such servicesPre-posttest designHelp-seeking behaviorSuicidal thoughtsMiddle-income countriesDigital-based interventionsProportion of participantsPowered randomized controlled trialsNon-overlapping studiesLGBTQ communityPerceived stigma
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
EPIC-P Intervention
HIC ID2000026228RolePrincipal InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date03/15/2023Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge18+ years