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Marya V. Gwadz,

PhD
Senior Research Scientist
Deputy Director, Center for Drug Use and HIV Research (CDUHR)
726 Broadway, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10003
Phone: 
212-992-7147
Fax: 
212-995-3143
Email: 
marya.gwadz@nyu.edu
Areas of Specialization 

HIV/AIDS – prevention and treatment issues, substance use and substance use problems, mental health, racial/ethnic and gender disparities in health, vulnerable adolescent and adult populations, social and behavioral interventions, peer-driven interventions, multi-level interventions

Education 
PhD, 1998, NYU Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Professional Overview 
Dr. Gwadz is a licensed psychologist, a Senior Research Scientist, and the Deputy Director of the Center for Drug Use and HIV Research (CDUHR, P30 DA011041; Sherry Deren, PhD, PI). Dr. Gwadz has been conducting intervention research for over two decades, with an emphasis on HIV-related health disparities in urban populations of color and among women. She is the author of over 50 articles on health disparities, HIV, interventions, mental health, drug use, or related topics. Further, Dr. Gwadz is an expert in developing, refining, and evaluating social and behavioral interventions. Dr. Gwadz has expertise in a number of intervention approaches including small group, individual, family, dyadic, patient navigation, and peer-driven intervention. She has led several successful intervention trials. She is also a leading expert in the recruitment and retention of vulnerable populations in research studies.
Licensure 
NY State Psychology
Professional Membership 
American Psychological Association
American Public Health Association
Clinical Practice / Clinical Interests 

Private Psychotherapy Practice (adults)

Current Research Projects
Integrating Behavioral Skills with a Mobile Biosensor for At-Risk Teen Mothers
National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Marya V. Gwadz
PhD, Senior Research Scientist, Deputy Director, Center for Drug Use and HIV Research (CDUHR), marya.gwadz@nyu.edu
Noelle R. Leonard
PhD, Senior Research Scientist, noelle.leonard@nyu.edu
Infectious Disease and Global Health

This project is developing and testing a parenting intervention for at-risk adolescent mothers which uses mindfulness meditation and social cognitive skill building and is enhanced by a biosensor wristband that communicates intervention material wirelessly to a smartphone at the moment of emotional arousal.

Intervention to Increase Timely Initiation of HAART Among Persons of Color
National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Marya V. Gwadz
PhD, Senior Research Scientist, Deputy Director, Center for Drug Use and HIV Research (CDUHR), marya.gwadz@nyu.edu
Infectious Disease and Global Health

This project will evaluate the efficacy of an individualized, culturally-tailored video-based intervention to increase initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV infection among those who have delayed or declined ART.

Peer-Driven Intervention to Seek, Test and Treat Heterosexuals at High Risk for HIV
National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Marya V. Gwadz
PhD, Senior Research Scientist, Deputy Director, Center for Drug Use and HIV Research (CDUHR), marya.gwadz@nyu.edu
Infectious Disease and Global Health

This project will evaluate the efficacy of a peer-driven intervention to seek out heterosexuals at high risk for HIV but who do not know they have HIV, test them, and link them to care if found to be HIV-infected.

Prevention Intervention for Drug Use & Related Behaviors with Incarcerated Youth
National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Noelle R. Leonard
PhD, Senior Research Scientist, noelle.leonard@nyu.edu
Infectious Disease and Global Health

The goal of this project is to conduct a small scale efficacy trial of a cognitive-behavioral intervention enhanced by mindfulness meditation among incarcerated adolescents.

Publications
Gwadz, M.V., Leonard, N.R., Cleland, C.M., Riedel, M., Banfield, A., & Mildvan, D. (2011). The effect of peer-driven intervention on rates of screening for AIDS clinical trials among African Americans and Hispanics. American Journal of Public Health, 101, 1096-1102. 10.2105/AJPH.2010.196048.
Gwadz, M.V., Cylar, K., Leonard, N.R., Riedel, M., Herzog, N., Arredondo, G.N., Cleland, C.M., Aguirre, M., Marshak, A., Mildvan, D. (2010). An exploratory behavioral intervention trial to improve rates of screening for AIDS clinical trials among racial/ethnic minority and female persons living with HIV/AIDS. AIDS and Behavior, 14, 639-648. 10.1007/s10461-009-9539-9.
Gwadz, M.V., Cleland, C.M., Quiles, R., Nish, D., Welch, J., Michaels, L.S., Gonzalez, J.L., Ritchie, A.S., Leonard, N.R. (2010). CDC HIV testing guidelines and the rapid and conventional testing practices of homeless youth. AIDS Education and Prevention, 22, 312-327. 10.1521/aeap.2010.22.4.312.
Gwadz, M.V., Colon, P., Ritchie, A.S., Leonard, N.R., Cleland, C.M., Riedel, M., Bowens, D., Banfield, A.D., Chang, P., Quiles, R., Mildvan, D. (2010). Increasing and supporting the participation of persons of color living with HIV/AIDS in AIDS clinical trials. Current HIV/AIDS Reports, 7, 194-200. 10.1007/s11904-010-0055-3.
Gwadz, M.V., Leonard, N.R., Cleland, C.M., Riedel, M., Arredondo, G.N., Wolfe, H., Hardcastle, E., & Morris, J. (2008). Behavioral interventions for HIV infected and uninfected mothers with problem drinking. Addiction Research and Theory, 16, 47-65. 10.1080/16066350701651214.
Leonard, N.R., Gwadz, M.V., Cleland, C.M., Vekaria, P.C., & Ferns, B. (2008). Maternal substance use and HIV status: Adolescent risk and resilience. Journal of Adolescence, 31, 389-405. 10.1016/j.adolescence.2007.07.001, PMCID: PMC2713070.
Gwadz, M.V., Gostnell, K., Smolenski, C., Willis, B., Nish, D., Nolan, T.C., Tharaken, M., & Ritchie, A.S. (2008). The initiation of homeless youth into the street economy. Journal of Adolescence, 32, 357-377. 10.1016/j.adolescence.2008.01.004.
Leonard, N.R., Gwadz, M.V., Cleland, C.M., Rotko, L., & Gostnell, K. (2007). Physical and mental health functioning of urban HIV-infected and uninfected mothers with problem drinking. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 33, 419-427. 10.1080/00952990701313652.
Leonard, N.R., Gwadz, M.V., Arredondo, G.N., Riedel, M., Rotko, L., Hardcastle, E.J., & Potere, J.C. (2007). Description of a behavioral intervention to reduce substance use and related risk and increase positive parenting among urban mothers with alcohol and other drug problems. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 16, 531-544. 10.1007/s10826-006-9104-3.
Gwadz, M.V., Nish, D., Leonard, N.R., & Strauss, S.M. (2007). Gender differences in traumatic events and rates of post-traumatic stress disorder among homeless youth. Journal of Adolescence, 30, 117-129. 10.1016/j.adolescence.2006.01.004.
Gwadz, M.V., Leonard, N.R., Nakagawa, A., Cylar, K., Finkelstein, M., Herzog, N., Tharaken, M., & Mildvan, D. (2006). Gender differences in attitudes toward AIDS clinical trials among urban HIV-infected individuals from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds. AIDS Care, 18, 786-794. 10.1080/09540120500428952.
Gwadz, M.V., Clatts, M.C., Yi, H., Leonard, N.R., Goldsamt, L., & Lankenau, S. (2006). Resilience among young men who have sex with men in New York City. Sexuality Research and Social Policy,, 3, 13-21. 10.1525/srsp.2006.3.1.13, PMCID: PMC2136414.
Lankenau, S.E., Clatts, M.C., Welle, D., Goldsamt, L.A., & Gwadz, M.V. (2005). Street careers: Homelessness, drug use, and sex work among young men who have sex with men (YMSM). International Journal of Drug Policy, 16, 10-18. 10.1016/j.drugpo.2004.07.006.
Gwadz, M.V., Clatts, M.C., Leonard, N.R., & Goldsamt, L. (2004). Attachment style, childhood adversity, and behavioral risk among young men who have sex with men. Journal of Adolescent Health, 34, 402-413. 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2003.08.006.
Leonard, N.R., Lester, P., Rotheram-Borus, M.J., Mattes, K., Gwadz, M., & Ferns, B. (2003). Successful recruitment and retention of participants in longitudinal behavioral research. AIDS Education and Prevention, 15, 269-281. 10.1521/aeap.15.4.269.23827.
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