The Minority Stress & Trauma (MST) Lab conducts research on the biopsychosocial determinants of substance use, mental health concerns, and chronic pelvic pain among trauma-exposed individuals and those experiencing interpersonal and structural stigma (e.g., sexual and gender minority people).
Our work integrates ecological momentary assessment, qualitative inquiry, and wearable sensors to examine the biological and psychosocial mechanisms linking pain, substance use, and mental health concerns among people with lived experience of violence and marginalization, both in the lab and in real-world settings.
We also investigate barriers and facilitators to help-seeking and linkage to care, and develop scalable, evidence-based interventions—delivered in-person, via telehealth, and through digital platforms—to reduce substance use, pain, and mental health conditions in sexual and gender minority people and those with lived experience of sexual violence.
Through this work, the MST Lab seeks to advance scientific knowledge, improve health equity, and inform policy and clinical practice tailored to the unique needs of trauma-exposed and sexual and gender minority communities.