I am a co-founder and serve as an associate researcher at NUDHES, a multidisciplinary group affiliated with the Santa Casa de São Paulo School of Medical Sciences. The group has been registered in the CNPq directory since 2014 and, in 2023, transitioned into a Civil Society Organization (OSC). Our focus is on promoting, encouraging, and conducting behavioral and epidemiological studies addressing social, cultural, and health issues, with an emphasis on the LGBT+ population. We conduct research in collaboration with national and international organizations, local governments, and the LGBT+ community. My responsibilities include developing research projects, applying mixed methodologies in studies on public health and human rights, as well as managing the group's communication, developing and maintaining the website and social media, and covering events.

Atuei como coordenador do campo quantitativo e pesquisador responsável pela implementação de abordagens de pesquisa de base comunitária no desenho do estudo. O objetivo deste estudo é identificar e analisar a formação e o funcionamento de redes de apoio e práticas de cuidado, tanto institucionais quanto comunitárias, com foco na saúde mental. O estudo é voltado especificamente para mulheres trans e travestis durante a pandemia de Covid-19 na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo, com especial atenção àquelas envolvidas no trabalho sexual.

I worked as an interviewer and researcher on the Manas Por Manas study, guided by gender affirmation theory, in partnership with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). The study aimed to test a multilevel intervention designed to reduce intersectional stigma and increase adherence to HIV prevention among travestis and transgender women in Brazil. Under the supervision of Dr. Maria Amélia Veras in Brazil and Drs. Sheri Lippman and Jae Sevelius in the USA, the study compared participants randomized to the intervention with a control group, assessing regular HIV testing rates (both self-testing and clinical tests) and PrEP use. We also investigated how reducing intersectional stigma impacted engagement in prevention strategies.

Fui responsável pela adaptação do estudo Eu Quero é Mais para o contexto brasileiro, pela submissão ética e pela coordenação de campo. Este estudo de base comunitária faz parte do EPIC, uma iniciativa internacional da Coalition PLUS que explora o impacto da Covid-19 em populações historicamente afetadas pelo HIV e hepatite C. O estudo teve como objetivo entender como a Covid-19 influenciou a vida e a saúde de mulheres cisgênero, mulheres trans e travestis que são trabalhadoras sexuais, além de identificar as respostas comunitárias desse grupo durante o período da pandemia.

The IHP program adopts a holistic and interdisciplinary perspective on public health in Brazil, integrating theoretical courses and practical learning through field observations and experiences. The group, composed of undergraduate students from various American universities, traveled through four countries, delving into the public health issues of each location. In Brazil, I served as a local professor, teaching classes (in English) on the structure of the Unified Health System (SUS), minority health, health disparities (through social and epidemiological lenses), community involvement (in politics and health), and contemporary challenges (including social, behavioral, and political changes).

I served as a field supervisor and researcher in the TransAmigas project, which aimed to improve health outcomes for transgender women living with HIV in São Paulo. The project was launched in May 2018 with support from the NIH, and included training 9 transgender women living with HIV to provide support and guidance to up to 150 participants who were either starting treatment or resuming care after a period of interruption.

I worked as a Community Educator Coordinator and Researcher in the HPTN 083 and BELIEVE studies, under the supervision of Dr. Esper Kallás. HPTN 083 was a Phase 2b/3 double-blind clinical trial comparing the safety and efficacy of injectable Cabotegravir with daily oral Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate/Emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in HIV-uninfected cisgender men and transgender women who have sex with men. The BELIEVE study initially aimed to translate basic HIV cure research and community perception into clinical studies.

Coordinator: Dr. Maria Amélia VerasThe project aims to understand the conditions and public- health needs of transgender persons in São Paulo

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the acceptance, safety and feasibility of PrEP among men who have sex with men in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro

The SampaCentro study investigated risk perception and knowledge about HIV/AIDS among men who have sex with men in São Paulo, aiming to identify behaviors and the prevalence of HIV in this population, under the supervision of Professor Dr. Maria Amélia Veras. This was my first study focused on the health of the LGBT+ population. As a trainee, I worked on creating social media outreach strategies and reviewing the project's final report.