SHAWNA Research Team
UBC Principal Investigators (PIs)
- 2014-2020: Dr. Kate Shannon (PI); Dr. Kathleen Deering (Co-PI); Dr. Andrea Krüsi (Qualitative/arts-based)
- 2020-2027: Dr. Kathleen Deering (PI); Dr. Kate Shannon (Nominated PI)
UBC Oak Tree Site Principal Investigator
- 2014-2027: Dr. Mary Kestler
Co-Investigators (Co-I’s) & Consultants
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research Project Grant: “Longitudinal impacts of violence and stigma on HIV care continuum and broader health care access among WLWH: the SHAWNA Project” (2020-2025, Project Grant # PJT – 169119); Co-I’s: Stefan Baral, Brittany Bingham, Putu Duff, Lulu Gurney, Mary Kestler, Andrea Krüsi, Carmen Logie, Gina Ogilvie, Neora Pick, Flo Ranville, Kate Shannon, Jeannie Shoveller, & Steffanie Strathdee.
- US National Institutes of Health R01: “Social and structural violence and HIV care continuum outcomes: Developing a trauma-informed HIV care intervention among WLWH” (2020-2025, Grant #5R01MH123349-04); Co-I’s Mary Kestler, Andrea Krüsi, Carmen Logie, Gina Ogilvie; Consultants: Stefan Baral & Steffanie Strathdee.
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research Operating Grant: “Sexual health, HAART and HIV care amongst women living with HIV: A longitudinal investigation of the impacts of structural, social and policy environments” (2014-2019; Complete); Co-I’s: Putu Duff, Andrea Krüsi, Charlotte Loppie, Michael-John Milloy, Deborah Money, Julio Montaner, Gina Ogilvie, Jeannie Shoveller, Marcie Summers, Alison Symington, & Evan Wood.
2025 Research Project Staff
- Elle Aikema (Project Coordinator), Wiebke Bartels (Data Analyst), Yas Botelho (Site Coordinator), Cathy Chabot (Research Manager), Esther Ibu (Admin support), Desire King (Research Associate), Melanie Lee (Research Associate), Vy Manohara (Assistant Project Coordinator), Alice Purcell (Interviewer), Amanda Tallio (Interviewer & Research Associate), Colleen Thompson (Project Coordinator), Esteban Valencia (Data Analyst), Peter Vann (Grants Manager), Charlie Zhou (Database Manager & Statistician).
2025 Graduate Students / Trainees
- SQ (Suiqiong) Fan, Beatrix Lehmann, Mika Ohtsuka, Rhiannon Owen, Sagar Pannu
Community Experts
The SHAWNA Project is driven by the valuable input of our community experts—women living with HIV who either live in or access HIV health services in Metro Vancouver, Canada. Their responses provide critical information, helping to identify key successes, challenges, and needs within their everyday lives and the greater community. This data is essential in forming evidence-based recommendations for community organizations, healthcare providers, and government/legal organizations, to make meaningful changes and improve support systems for women living with HIV.
Positive Women’s Advisory Board (PWAB)
PWAB is a group of 10-15 community experts who have participated in SHAWNA’s surveys. PWAB meets to discuss research priorities and findings, and they provide invaluable insights that shape our research processes and community engagement activities.
We want to extend our deepest appreciation to the community experts who have been an integral part of our journey over the past decade. Your insights, stories, and unwavering support have been the heart of our work, guiding us in meaningful ways and enriching our understanding. It has been an honor to collaborate with you, and your contributions have been invaluable in shaping the outcomes of our project. Thank you for your trust, dedication, and partnership!
Community Advisory Board (CAB)
The SHAWNA Project CAB is a key group of community, clinical, and academic stakeholders who meet to share needs and priorities relevant to women living with HIV, including Afro-Canadian Positive Network of BC (ACPNET), Canadian Alliances and Networks (CAAN), HIV Legal Network, Oak Tree Clinic/ BC Women’s Hospital; YouthCo, PAN, Dr. Peter Centre, Ribbon Community, STOP HIV/AIDS, BCCDC, Options for Sexual Health, Kilala Lelum Health Clinic, and BCC3. CAB members provide important feedback and guidance for project implementation and processes, recruitment and retention, research findings, knowledge translation outputs, policy applications, and advocacy.