A world where all women are safe, healthy, and free from gender-based violence

Publications

Published in leading journals, our research explores the links between intimate partner violence, substance use, and HIV risk among women and highlights the impact of trauma-informed, syndemic-focused interventions like Project WINGS, emphasizing empowerment-based safety planning, cultural responsiveness, and technology-driven community partnerships to improve access and outcomes.

Featured Research

WINGS Publications

Kenya

Winter, S. C., Obara, L. M., Ndetei, D., Mutiso, V., Gilbert, L., Bellamy, S. L., Shin, G. U., Shrestha, A., & Witte, S. S. (2026). Feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a combined intimate partner violence (IPV) and mental health intervention (WINGS+ PM+) for women in informal settlements in Kenya. Social Science & Medicine, 119095.

Kazakhstan

Terlikbayeva, A., Primbetova, S., Gatanaga, O. S., Chang, M., Rozental, Y., Nurkatova, M., Baisakova, Z., Bilokon, Y., Karan, S. E., & Dasgupta, A. (2025). UMAI-WINGS: Evaluating the effectiveness of implementing mHealth intimate partner violence prevention intervention in reducing intimate partner violence among women from key affected populations in Kazakhstan using a community-based approach. Behavioral Sciences, 15(5), 641.

Kyrgyzstan

Nikitin,D,Bessonova,A,Gilbert,L,Jiwatram-Negron,T,&Terlikbayeva,A.(2025).WINGS in Kyrgyzstan:An intervention for gender-based violence prevention.In NGO involvement in drug treatment and infectious disease prevention in Central Asia and China(pp.179-200).Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH&Co.KG.

United States

Goddard-Eckrich D, Henry BF, Sardana S, et al. Evidence of Help-Seeking Behaviors Among Black Women Under Community Supervision in New York City: A Plea for Culturally Tailored Intimate Partner Violence Interventions. Women’s Health Reports. 2022;3(1). doi:10.1089/whr.2022.0004

Kyrgyzstan

Musagalieva, T., Nikitin, D., Pugachev, A., Gilbert, L., Hunt, T., Jiwatram-Negron, T., Rychkova, O., Mukambetov, A., Sadykov, I., & Ermolaeva, I. (2018). WINGS of hope: Evaluating effects of integrating a brief gender-based violence prevention intervention with HIV counseling and testing among women who use drugs in Kyrgyzstan. Journal of the International AIDS Society, 21(Suppl 5), 88–89.

Kyrgyzstan

Gilbert, L., Jiwatram-Negron, T., Nikitin, D., Rychkova, O., McCrimmon, T., Ermolaeva, I., Sharonova, N., Mukambetov, A., & Hunt, T. (2017). Feasibility and preliminary effects of a screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment model to address gender-based violence among women who use drugs in Kyrgyzstan: Project WINGS (Women Initiating New Goals of Safety). Drug and Alcohol Review, 36(1), 125–133.

United States

Gilbert, L., Shaw, S. A., Goddard‐Eckrich, D., Chang, M., Rowe, J., McCrimmon, T., Almonte, M., Goodwin, S., & Epperson, M. (2015). Project WINGS (Women Initiating New Goals of Safety): A randomised controlled trial of a screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) service to identify and address intimate partner violence victimisation among substance‐using women receiving community supervision. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 25(4), 314–329

Selected Publications by WINGS Partners

Jiwatram-Negrón, T., Meinhart, M., Ahmed, S., Nikitin, D., & Gilbert, L. (2025). Preliminary effects of a syndemic-focused brief intervention to reduce gender-based violence among women with a history of sex trading and substance use. Social Work Research, 49(2), 106–118.
Goddard-Eckrich, D., Marotta, P., Dsouza, N., Chang, M., Wu, E., Richer, A., Hunt, T., Davis, A., Dasgupta, A., & Hall, J. (2025). Intersections of substance use, overdose risk, and intimate partner violence: A dyadic approach to violence prevention in criminal legal settings. Research Square, rs-6676375.
Stoicescu, C., Medley, B., Wu, E., El-Bassel, N., Tanjung, P., & Gilbert, L. (2024). Synergistic effects of exposure to multiple types of violence on non-fatal drug overdose among women who inject drugs in Indonesia: Implications for broadening the scope of harm reduction services. International Journal of Drug Policy, 128, 104486.
Jiwatram-Negron, T., Peitzmeier, S., Meinhart, M., Vasiliou, N., Nikitin, D., & Gilbert, L. (2023). Associations between transactional sex and intimate and non-intimate partner violence: Findings from Project WINGS of Hope. Journal of Family Violence, 38(1), 161–173.
Gilbert, L., Stoicescu, C., Goddard-Eckrich, D., Dasgupta, A., Richer, A., N. Benjamin, S., Wu, E., & El-Bassel, N. (2023). Intervening on the intersecting issues of intimate partner violence, substance use, and HIV: A review of Social Intervention Group’s (SIG) syndemic-focused interventions for women. Research on Social Work Practice, 33(2), 178–192.
El-Bassel, N., Mukherjee, T. I., Stoicescu, C., Starbird, L. E., Stockman, J. K., Frye, V., & Gilbert, L. (2022). Intertwined epidemics: Progress, gaps, and opportunities to address intimate partner violence and HIV among key populations of women. The Lancet HIV, 9(3), e202–e213.
Gilbert, L., Goddard-Eckrich, D., Chang, M., Hunt, T., Wu, E., Johnson, K., Richards, S., Goodwin, S., Tibbetts, R., & Metsch, L. R. (2021). Effectiveness of a culturally tailored HIV and sexually transmitted infection prevention intervention for Black women in community supervision programs: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Network Open, 4(4), e215226.
Gilbert, L., Marotta, P. L., Goddard-Eckrich, D., Richer, A., Akuffo, J., Hunt, T., Wu, E., & El-Bassel, N. (2022). Association between multiple experiences of violence and drug overdose among Black women in community supervision programs in New York City. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 37(23–24), NP21502–NP21524
Stoicescu, C., Richer, A., & Gilbert, L. (2020). Nexus of risk: The co-occurring problems of gender-based violence, HIV and drug use among women and adolescent girls. In J. Buxton, G. Margo, & L. Burger (Eds.), The Impact of Global Drug Policy on Women: Shifting the Needle. Emerald Publishing.
El-Bassel, N., Marotta, P. L., Goddard-Eckrich, D., Chang, M., Hunt, T., Wu, E., & Gilbert, L. (2019). Drug overdose among women in intimate relationships: The role of partner violence, adversity and relationship dependencies. PLOS ONE, 14(12), e0225854.
Gilbert, L., Sarvet, A. L., Wall, M., Walsh, K., Reardon, L., Wilson, P., Santelli, J., Khan, S., Thompson, M., & Hirsch, J. S. (2019). Situational contexts and risk factors associated with incapacitated and nonincapacitated sexual assaults among college women. Journal of Women’s Health, 28(2), 185–193.
Johnson, K., Gilbert, L., Hunt, T., Wu, E., Metsch, L., Goddard-Eckrich, D., Richards, S., Tibbetts, R., Rowe, J. C., & Wainberg, M. L. (2018). The effectiveness of a group-based computerized HIV/STI prevention intervention for Black women who use drugs in the criminal justice system: Study protocol for E-WORTH (Empowering African-American Women on the Road to Health), a Hybrid Type 1 randomized controlled trial. Trials, 19(1), 486.
Weaver, T. L., Gilbert, L., El-Bassel, N., Resnick, H. S., & Noursi, S. (2015). Identifying and intervening with substance-using women exposed to intimate partner violence: Phenomenology, comorbidities, and integrated approaches within primary care and other agency settings. Journal of Women’s Health, 24(1), 51–56.
Gilbert, L., Raj, A., Hien, D., Stockman, J., Terlikbayeva, A., & Wyatt, G. (2015). Targeting the SAVA (substance abuse, violence, and AIDS) syndemic among women and girls: A global review of epidemiology and integrated interventions. JAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 69, S118–S127.
Gilbert, L., El-Bassel, N., Wu, E., & Chang, M. (2007). Intimate partner violence and HIV risks: A longitudinal study of men on methadone. Journal of Urban Health, 84(5), 667–680
Gilbert, L., El-Bassel, N., Manuel, J., Wu, E., Golder, S., Seewald, R., & Sanders, R. (2006). An integrated relapse prevention and relationship safety intervention for women on methadone: Testing short-term effects on intimate partner violence and substance use. Violence & Victims, 21(5), 657–672.
El-Bassel, N., Gilbert, L., Wu, E., Go, H., & Hill, J. (2005). Relationship between drug abuse and intimate partner violence: A longitudinal study among women receiving methadone. American Journal of Public Health, 95(3), 465–470.
El-Bassel, N., Gilbert, L., Wu, E., Go, H., & Hill, J. (2005). HIV and intimate partner violence among methadone-maintained women in New York City. Social Science & Medicine, 61(1), 171–183.
El-Bassel, N., Gilbert, L., Golder, S., Wu, E., Chang, M., Fontdevila, J., & Sanders, G. (2004). Deconstructing the relationship between intimate partner violence and sexual HIV risk among drug-involved men and their female partners. AIDS and Behavior, 8(4), 429–439.
El-Bassel, N., Gilbert, L., Witte, S., Wu, E., Gaeta, T., Schilling, R., & Wada, T. (2003). Intimate partner violence and substance abuse among minority women receiving care from an inner-city emergency department. Women’s Health Issues, 13(1), 16–22.
Gilbert, L., El-Bassel, N., Rajah, V., Foleno, A., & Frye, V. (2001). Linking drug-related activities with experiences of partner violence: A focus group study of women. Violence and Victims, 16(5), 517–536.
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