The HIV Prevention Lab stands in solidarity with the University’s Indigenous community in the renaming of Toronto Metropolitan University. To learn more about the University’s new name and the process in which the name was chosen, we encourage you to read more about the University’s new name.
A key focus of the HIV Prevention Lab’s work is to acknowledge and highlight the health disparities and inequities that exist within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. A recent Canadian research report highlights the unique experiences of Indigenous trans, two-spirit, and non-binary people that negatively impact their health and wellbeing, particularly high rates of violence, harassment, and social exclusion. Importantly, the report also highlights the unique strengths and resiliency of Indigenous trans, two-spirit, and non-binary individuals and communities. As a part of Pride Month, we encourage community members to stand in solidarity with and advocate for the racialized, trans, non-binary, and two-spirit members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community who continue to experience disproportionate levels of discrimination, oppression, and marginalization.
Statement on Anti-Racism Action
The HIV Prevention Lab acknowledges the violent and tragic history of racism and colonialism as well as the ongoing oppression of Black, Indigenous, and other people of colour. We also acknowledge that both science and academia are complicit in these systems of racism and oppression. We commit to respond with anti-racist action, including:
- Actively recruiting and supporting Black, Indigenous, and other people of colour in our lab.
- To conduct research examining the role of racism and colonialism in the lives of people who are Black, Indigenous, and/or other people of colour.
- To conduct intersectional analyses that examine how racism and colonialism interact with other oppressive systems such as homophobia and sexism in the lives of gay, bisexual, queer, and other men who have sex with men who are Black, Indigenous, and/or people of colour.
- To mandate training among lab members on anti-racism and anti-colonialism, and to mandate that we discuss how to implement this knowledge to improve our research and clinical practices.
Studies with ongoing recruitment

Sexual Confidence – RCT
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Completed Studies

The Not So Micro Study
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Project THRIVE+
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GQ Arousal Study
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GPS Implementation Science
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Gay, Bi, Queer Men’s Sexual Pain Study
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Positive Sleep Study
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GPS: Gay Poz Sex
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Recent News and Events
Lab Publication
Our most recent publication is now online for viewing! You can read our article, Crystal Methamphetamine Use and Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Among Gay, Bisexual and other Men [...]
Read More...Lab Get-Together
The HIV Prevention team having a fabulous and fun evening! [...]
Read More...I AM Research Lab
The I AM Research lab currently has opportunities and role openings for the following positions: Project CoordinatorGraduate Research AssistantsFocus Group Facilitators For more information [...]
Read More...Request for Applications: Moyo Health & Community Services Championing Spaces Advisory Group
Role Summary:Moyo Health and Community Services (Moyo HCS) is seeking applications of interest for positions on the Advisory Group for our Championing Spaces program. The role of the Advisory Group w [...]
Read More...Recognition
The HIV Prevention Lab has received recognition on behalf of Dr. Ammaar Kidwai and Graham Berlin for their achievement of the Canadian Psychological Association Certificate of Academic Excellence at [...]
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I AM Research Lab
The I AM Research lab currently has opportunities and role openings for the following positions: Project Coordinator Graduate Research Assistants Focus Group Facilitators For more information, visit the link below: https://www.iamresearchlab.com/hiring
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Lab Publication
Our most recent publication is now online for viewing! You can read our article, Crystal Methamphetamine Use and Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Among Gay, Bisexual and other Men who have Sex with Men in Canada here: [link]
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Lab Get-Together
The HIV Prevention team having a fabulous and fun evening!
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Request for Applications: Moyo Health & Community Services Championing Spaces Advisory Group
Role Summary:Moyo Health and Community Services (Moyo HCS) is seeking applications of interest for positions on the Advisory Group for our Championing Spaces program. The role of the Advisory Group will be to establish the Championing Spaces sexual health series to queer and trans folks in peel region to increase their capacity (knowledge, skills, decision-making…
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Sexual Confidence Research Assistant
TITLE: Part-time Sexual Confidence Research Associate SITE: HIV Prevention Lab, Ryerson University SUPERVISORS: Dr. Trevor Hart, Dr. Allison Kirschbaum, Nicole Elkington JOB SUMMARY Working under the HIV Prevention Lab Director (Dr. Hart), and the Sexual Confidence post-doctoral fellow (Allison Kirschbaum), the part-time Research Associate will assist with the data collection and implementation of the Sexual Confidence RCT, a…
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Recognition
The HIV Prevention Lab has received recognition on behalf of Dr. Ammaar Kidwai and Graham Berlin for their achievement of the Canadian Psychological Association Certificate of Academic Excellence at the Doctoral and Master’s level, respectively. A remarkable accomplishment!
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LGBTQ Meaning: what the different flags represent
June marks Pride Month, where millions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual and queer people will gather at parties and parades to celebrate LGBTQ rights and the transformational impact these communities have made. Dr. Trevor A. Hart, of the HIV Prevention Lab and Professor and Director at Toronto Metropolitan University’s of Psychology Department of Psychology, believes the…
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Let’s Talk: Addressing mental health in the HIV community
Many chronic conditions are linked to an increased risk of mental health issues, and HIV is no different. People living with the virus are at higher risk of developing mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety. Conversely, people living with mental health issues may be at higher risk of contracting HIV. “Anxiety, depression, and substance use…
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Addressing loneliness among sexual minority men
As loneliness and social isolation become increasingly pervasive, Dr. Shayna Skakoon-Sparling is focussing on how they affect gay, bisexual and queer men (GBQM). A postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Trevor Hart’s HIV Prevention Lab, Dr. Skakoon-Sparling has received a $99,800 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Insight Grant to examine the modern context of online and…
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New research suggests scaling up HIV testing and prevention among gay and bisexual men
The study compares data on the prevalence of HIV and STI testing in Canada’s largest cities Reports from public health agenices suggest that half of the HIV diagnoses in Canada are among gay and bisexual men. They are also 131 times more likely to contract HIV than other Canadian men. A recent study co-authored by psychology professor and public…
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Sexual Health Research Nurse
Department: HIV Prevention Lab, Department of PsychologyPosition supervisor: Dr. Trevor HartContract length: 12 monthsHours of work per week: 36.25Position type: Full-timeRate of pay: $66,000 per annum About Ryerson At the intersection of mind and action, Ryerson is on a transformative path to become Canada’s leading comprehensive innovation university. Integral to this path is the placement of equity, diversity and inclusion as…
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Researchers find HIV PrEP use less than optimal among men in three large Canadian cities
Researchers analyzed data collected between February 2017 and August 2019 in a study called Engage. The analysis was based on data collected from each participant at one point in those years.
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Struggles still remain for 2SLGBTQIA+ people
A piece in thestart.com by Prof. Trevor Hart, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts.
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Upcoming PHAC Survey of service providers on the impact of COVID-19 on access to and delivery of STBBI-related services including harm reduction services in Canada│ Enquête à venir de l’ASPC auprès des fournisseurs de services sur l’incidence de la COVID
Le français suit. Dear Colleagues, The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) wants to better understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to and delivery of STBBI prevention, testing, treatment, and harm reductions services. You are receiving this email because you play an important role in Canada’s response to STBBI. PHAC is launching a COVID-19…
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Peer-enabled platform challenges outmoded idea of what it means to be a man
Ryerson’s Social Ventures Zone welcomed tethr this summer, a peer-enabled app for men to connect and offer one another support as men’s mental health data shows distressing trends. Read the full article here.
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CIHR Qualitative Postdoctoral Fellowship
Call for Applications The CIHR Engage Cohort Study is recruiting for a 2-year Postdoctoral Fellow to begin as soon as possible. The primary focus of this position will be to support Engage qualitative research activities related to understanding the direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19 on the health of sexual and gender minority men in…
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In support of Conversion Therapy Prohibition Legislation in Canada
Dear colleagues, We are requesting signatures from university researchers, academics, and public policy experts in Canada for an open letter that calls on all levels of government and professional regulatory bodies to take action by passing legislation and/or policies to prohibit the practice of “conversion therapy” in Canada. You can view the open letter and…
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Why are Men Who Have Sex With Men Still Banned From Donating Blood?
ANALYSIS: Health Canada has reduced the ban on blood donations from men who have sex with men to three months. But some experts say that what’s really needed is an entirely new approach. Dr. Trevor Hart featured in TVO By Jake Pitre – Published on June 10, 2019 Click HERE to read the the article.
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Dr. Trevor Hart in the 2019 Sarwan Sahota Lecture Series: Sexual Health Research for Sexual Minority Men
2019 Sarwan Sahota Ryerson Distinguished Scholar Lecture: Trevor Hart Wednesday, October 30th at 12-2 pm. Topic: Sexual Health Research for Sexual Minority Men. Register by October 28 at bit.ly/ru-hart-lecturebit.ly/ru-hart-lecture
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Dr. Trevor Hart Featured on Armchair Expert Podcast
Live: Dan Savage. Episode 127 – August 1, 2019 (at 119:00 or 1 hour 59 minutes) https://armchairexpertpod.com/pods/dan-savage
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