Incoming Stony Brook University School of Social Welfare faculty member Sabrina Cluesman, PhD, MSW, LCSW, presented at AIDS 2026, the 26th International AIDS Conference, in Rio de Janeiro last month.
Dr. Cluesman's presentation focused on findings from Manas por Manas, a randomized controlled trial of a peer-led HIV prevention intervention with transgender women and travestis in São Paulo. The study examined changes in stigma and resilience-related processes over the first year of the trial. A key contribution of the presentation was methodological: average change alone can miss important intervention effects.
"Using multi-group latent growth curve models, we showed how researchers can examine not only whether change occurs, but for whom and under what baseline conditions," said Dr. Cluesman. "This approach can also help identify salient intervention mechanisms to target in future research, which is particularly important for populations experiencing the greatest need."
The International AIDS Conference is the world’s largest scientific conference on HIV and AIDS, bringing together researchers, clinicians, advocates, community leaders, and policymakers from around the world.
"It was an honor to present this work internationally, and I’m excited to bring these collaborations, questions, and methodological approaches to Stony Brook this fall," said Dr. Cluesman.
Dr. Cluesman is currently a postdoctoral research scientist at the HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the New York State Psychiatric Institute. She will join the SSW as an assistant professor for the Fall 2026 semester.
