SIG conducts rigorous research, employing novel intervention approaches to address co-occurring problems using state-of-the-art research designs and analytic methods. SIG’s research areas of interest include HIV, criminal justice, sexual minorities, intimate partner violence (IPV), and substance use.
In addition to conducting research projects in New York City, SIG’s reach extends globally. In collaboration with the Global Health Center of Central Asia (GHRCCA), SIG leadership helps facilitate ongoing research projects in Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Additionally, SIG conducts research in Mayalsia and Zambia. SIG’s most recent global work includes India, Turkey, Jordan, and Syria through the new ASPIRE partnership.
SIG and its affiliates are currently conducting research in the United States, Central Asia, Malaysia, Zambia, Turkey, Jordan, and Syria.
SIG is also part of the Community Collaborative Research Network (CCRN), a partnership between SIG, community corrections personnel, social service agencies, and justice-involved community members. The CCRN was formed to strengthen community-researcher collaborations and shape evidence-based, sustainable solutions—and the research behind them—to address HIV, violence, substance use, mental health, and other co-occurring issues.
Featured Research
| Project Name | Summary | PI |
| ASPIRE
2016 – Ongoing PGIF / Incite |
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. | Nabila El-Bassel |
| BRIDGE
2015 – 2020 NIDA |
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 will be implemented in 24 NGOs in 4 cities in Kazakhstan. | Nabila El-Bassel, Louisa Gilbert |
| CONNECT
High Impact Prevention (HIP) 2015 – 2016 CDC and Danya, Inc |
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. | Timothy Hunt |
| Connect ‘N Unite (CNU)
2011 – 2018 NIDA |
Couples-based HIV/STI preventive intervention for illicit drug-involved men who have sex with men (MSM) in New York City. | Elwin Wu |
| Criminal Justice Initiative
2009 – Present |
The Criminal Justice Initiative: Supporting Children, Families and Communities (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. Read more. | Nabila El-Bassel |
| eWORTH
2014 – 2019 NIDA |
A 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. | Nabila El-Bassel |
| Global Health and Mental Health Unit (GHMH) | Promotes research, training and education activities related to health and mental health globally. Includes the Zambia pilot, a quantitative study examining trauma, mental health, substance use and HIV risk among truck drivers in Zambia. Read more about the project in an update here. |
Lynn Michalopoulos |
| Internet Banging
2014 – Ongoing |
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. | Desmond Patton |
| LAtino Sleep & Health Study (LASH)
2015 – 2020 NHLBI |
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. | Carmela Alcantara |
| NOVA
2014 – 2019 NIDA |
Evaluating a Microfinance Intervention for High Risk Women in Kazakhstan. | Nabila El-Bassel, Susan Witte |
| PACT
2012 – 2017 NIDA |
Couples STI/HIV Prevention for Drug Involved Male Offenders in New York City. Randomized clinical trial testing the implementation, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of a couple-based HIV and drug abuse prevention intervention with drug-involved male offenders. | Nabila El-Bassel |
| UNI
2016 – 2021 NIDA |
Increasing Involvement of MSM in the Continuum of Care in Kazakhstan. Stepped-Wedge trial in 3 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. | Elwin Wu |
| USWEEP 2018 – 2019 UNICEF |
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. | Timothy Hunt |
| WINGS
2011 – 2013 NIDA |
A 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. | Louisa Gilbert, Dawn Goddard-Eckrich |
| WORTH Transitions
2016 – 2019 SAMHSA |
Multimedia HIV/STI Prevention for Drug-Involved Female Offenders. 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. | Timothy Hunt |
Research Training Programs
| HISTP
2007 – 2017 NIMH |
HIV Intervention Science Training Program for Underrepresented New Investigators. Mentoring and training program aimed at developing a cadre of underrepresented scientists dedicated to researching HIV-related health disparities & co-occurring mental health disorders. | Nabila El-Bassel, Elwin Wu |
| T32
2014 – 2019 NIDA |
HIV Substance Use in the Criminal Justice System. Research training program on HIV, substance use, and criminal justice. | Nabila El-Bassel and Lisa Metsch |
Additional SIG research
|
ADVANCE II 2012 – 2013 OSI |
Overdose prevention with IDUs in Central Asia. A dissemination study examining capacity building and adoption of peer administered Naloxone for opioid overdose in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan. |
Timothy Hunt |
| BRIDGE
2006 – 2011 NIDA |
Service Use, ATI Program Outcomes, and Pro-Social Change. Longitudinal study examining service utilization among men and women attending Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) programs. | Elwin Wu |
| Bridges to Better Health and Wellness
2011 – 2016 NIMH |
Evaluating a health care manager program at an outpatient clinic for Hispanics with serious mental illness. Pilot study testing the feasibility and acceptability of a 12-month health care manager program in improving the physical health of Hispanic adults with serious mental illness who are at risk for cardiovascular disease. | Leo Cabassa, Ana Stefancic |
| Caravan
2013 – 2015 USAID |
Tuberculosis study will examine individual, social, and structural risk factors impacting migrants in four Central Asian countries. In partnership with the Global Health Research Center of Central Asia (GHRCCA). | Nabila El-Bassel, Neil Schluger |
| CONNECT
1996 – 2000 NIMH |
HIV Prevention with Minority Women and Their Male Sex Partners. HIV/STI prevention intervention for couples. | Louisa Gilbert |
| CONNECT Two
2004 – 2009 NIDA |
Couples STI/HIV Prevention for Drug Treatment Clients. HIV/STI prevention intervention among drug-involved couples. | Louisa Gilbert |
| CONNECT with Pride
2006 – 2009 CDC |
Novel HIV/STI Preventive Intervention for African American Men Who Have Sex With Men (with at least one partner using methamphetamines). Couples-based HIV/STI preventive intervention for men who have sex with men (MSM). | Elwin Wu |
| Cultural adaptation study
2015 – 2016 Provost |
Cultural Adaptation of an Online Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Insomnia for Hispanic Primary Care Patients. This formative, qualitative study utilizes a cultural adaptation stages model to adapt an interactive online evidence-based program of CBT-I for Spanish speaking Hispanic primary care patients. | Carmela Alcantara |
| Eban
2001 – 2008 NIMH |
HIV/STI Risk Reduction for HIV discordant African American Couples. Couples/ group HIV/STI preventive intervention to reduce sexually risky behaviors. | Louisa Gilbert |
| ISWOP
2011 – 2012 USAID |
Improving Social Work Practice in Central Asia. Qualitative study and curriculum development for 3 Central Asian countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan. | Timothy Hunt |
| Marketplace/ Silk Road Study
2007 – 2012 NIDA |
HIV/STI Risks Among Migrant Market Workers in Kazakhstan. Qualitative and quantitative study examining sexual risk behavior and migration in Central Asia. | Louisa Gilbert |
| Multimedia Connect
2007 – 2012 NIMH |
Using Multimedia Technologies to Disseminate an HIV Prevention Program for Couples. Dissemination study of a traditional vs. multimedia version of a couples-based HIV/STI prevention intervention called “Connect.” | Nabila El-Bassel, Susan Witte |
| Multimedia WORTH
2009 – 2014 NIDA |
Multimedia HIV/STI Prevention for Drug-Involved Female Offenders. Randomized clinical trial testing the efficacy of a risk reduction intervention for drug-involved, criminal justice-involved women.
Worth MM Procedural Manual (contact us for the most recent edition) |
Nabila El-Bassel |
| Peer-Led Healthy Lifestyle
2014 – 2019 NIMH |
Evaluating a Peer-Led Healthy Lifestyle Program in Supportive Housing Agencies for Persons with Serious Mental Illness. Hybrid randomized clinical trial studying the implementation and effectiveness of a peer-led intervention designed to promote healthy lifestyles and reduce health disparities in minority populations. | Leo Cabassa, Ana Stefancic |
| PRIME
2011 – 2012 |
Pilot Research Investigation on MSM Estimation. Demographic study designed to estimate the size of the population of men who have sex with men (MSM) in Kazakhstan. | Elwin Wu |
| Project Reach
2000 – 2004 NIMH |
Partner Abuse and HIV Among Women Receiving Emergency Care. Longitudinal study examining the relationship among drug abuse, HIV, and IPV. | Louisa Gilbert |
| Project START-UP
2013 – 2014 UNAIDS/ UNIFEM |
Quality of life assessment for women living with HIV in Kazakhstan. Survey of women living with HIV in Kazakhstan to assess quality of life, social and medical service needs, and level of stigma and discrimination. | Timothy Hunt |
| Renaissance
2008 – 2013 NIDA |
Couples HIV/STI Prevention in Kazakhstan. Randomized clinical trial to test the efficacy of an intervention for drug-involved couples in Kazakhstan. | Louisa Gilbert |
| SUMMIT
2002 – 2005 NIDA |
Service Use by Men on Methadone Committing Partner Abuse. Cross-sectional study examining service utilization among men on methadone who have perpetrated IPV. | Elwin Wu |
| The Men’s Health Project
1999 – 2003 NIDA |
HIV Risks and Partner Violence: Men on Methadone. Longitudinal study examining the relationships among drug abuse, HIV, and IPV. | Louisa Gilbert |
| The Women’s Health Project
1997 – 2001 NIDA |
Partner Abuse–Minority Women on Methadone. Longitudinal study examining the relationships among drug abuse, HIV, and IPV. | Louisa Gilbert |
| Waves | Cross-sectional epidemiological study with Drug-involved Malaysian fisherman. Quantitative study to assess HIV and injecting drug use prevalence and determinants of HIV risks among fishermen in Kuantan, Malaysia. | Nabila El-Bassel, Louisa Gilbert, Elwin Wu |
| WINGS of HOPE
2012 OSI |
Test of the Women Initiating New Goals for Safety (WINGS) intervention to increase the identification of intimate partner violence (IPV) and gender-based violence (GBV), and improve outreach . Pilot study of a screening, brief intervention and referral service to address gender-based violence and intimate partner violence. Implementation research of intervention with 12 harm reduction and sex work NGOs. | Louisa Gilbert, Timothy Hunt |
| Peer Specialists study | Examining the Added Value of Peer Specialists in Delivering Health Interventions. Qualitative study to identify key factors and mechanisms that underlie the added value of using peer specialists to deliver a healthy lifestyle intervention to people with SMI. | Leo Cabassa, Ana Stefancic |
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