MEET THE TEAM
Adam Carrico
I am a clinical-health psychologist with extensive experience in developing and testing behavioral interventions targeting the intertwining epidemics of substance use and HIV/AIDS. During the past 15 years, my clinical research program has focused on boosting the effectiveness motivational enhancement interventions such as contingency management (CM) and motivational interviewing (MI) for HIV/AIDS prevention with people who use stimulants such as methamphetamine. I recently completed a randomized controlled trial of a positive affect intervention designed to boost the effectiveness of CM for stimulant abstinence with sexual minority men living with HIV who use methamphetamine. To date, this is the only trial to demonstrate that a behavioral intervention can achieve durable and clinically meaningful reductions in HIV viral load with people who use substances. My team was also among the first to document that sexual minority men who use stimulants experience profound difficulties navigating the pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) care continuum. I am currently leading four NIH-funded randomized controlled trials testing behavioral interventions to optimize the benefits of PrEP and HIV treatment as prevention in this high priority population of sexual minority men who use stimulants.
Leah Ewart
Leah Davis Ewart, PhD, is a Research Assistant Professor in the Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work at FIU. Dr. Davis Ewart is passionate about pursuing a program of research to address intersectional minority stress as a key determinant of stimulant use and HIV in sexual minority men. She oversees the implementation of several, ongoing randomized controlled trials focused on optimizing HIV prevention in sexual minority men who use stimulants.
Christian Grov
Dr. Grov's research centers on the health of sexual and gender minority individuals.
His work has explored substance use, sexual compulsivity, venues where individuals meet sex partners, sex work, HIV/STI prevention, and HIV care. His studies have been supported by both the NIH and CDC. He has co-authored 230+ peer-reviewed articles, as well as several book chapters. He co-wrote "In the Company of Men: Inside the Lives of Male Prostitutes" (Praeger), and co-edited "The Routledge Handbook of Male Sex Work, Culture, and Society."Dr. Grov serves as a standing member of the NIH's HIV/AIDS Intra- and Inter-personal Determinants and Behavioral Interventions (HIBI) Study Section (2020 - 2024) an Associate Editor of the Journal of Sex Research (2017 - Present), and on the editorial boards of several peer-reviewed journals. He previously served as Editor-in-Chief of Sexuality Research and Social Policy, was a member of the NYC Department of Health’s HIV Prevention Planning Group, as well as, on the Board of Directors of HOOK, a non-profit dedicated to improving the health and well-being of men who are involved in sex work. In 2023, Dr. Grov was elected as a Fellow of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS) in recognition of his significant contributions to research and scholarship in the science of sexuality. Collectively, Dr. Grov's body of work seeks to inform HIV and STI prevention, education, and health policy.