The SHEER Lab’s research interests include sexual and reproductive health, contextual drivers of health, infectious disease epidemiology, and research ethics.
Makella S. Coudray, PhD, MPH, CPH
Director and Principal Investigator
Projects at a Glance
Reimagining Equitable Access through Community-informed HIV Prevention Strategies (REACH)
The REACH study examines how to improve access to and uptake of HIV prevention among Black women in the U.S. South, a population disproportionately affected by HIV yet underreached by pre‑exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Using qualitative interviews with Black women and healthcare providers in Central Florida, the project identifies key barriers and facilitators influencing PrEP engagement.
Grounded in an equity‑focused implementation science framework, the study aims to inform culturally responsive, community‑driven strategies to expand PrEP reach. Findings will guide the development of scalable interventions to improve HIV prevention and reduce persistent disparities in sexual health outcomes.
Screening to Engage in Prevention (STEP)
STEP is a pilot study examining how to increase HIV and STI testing through low‑barrier, patient‑centered approaches. The study compares self‑collected and clinic‑based testing for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, while identifying barriers to testing and linkage to care.
By integrating testing with prevention strategies such as PrEP and doxyPEP, STRiP aims to improve engagement across the sexual health care continuum and inform scalable, equity‑focused interventions to expand access to testing and prevention.
Recruitment for STEP will begin in Fall 2026.
Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing Risk and Prevention among Trans Women (STRiP-T)
There is a noted paucity of literature examining non-HIV STIs among trans women. Expanded efforts are needed to explore new STI screening options to increase STI testing rates and examine the relationship between the individual, interpersonal, and community factors and STI risk. Thus, this study aims to examine STI testing, treatment, and prevention preferences.
This study was terminated in March 2025. Interested in supporting this research? Please reach out to Makella.Coudray@ucf.edu
Fostering Integrity in Research on ethical data use and privacy (fIRED UP)
FIRED UP addresses the ethical considerations of collecting and integrating network data for HIV/STI and drug abuse research among women. It aims to evaluate privacy concerns, assess women’s perspectives on data handling by researchers, and examine the impact of sociopolitical climates on their participation in research. The findings will guide ethical research practices and enhance women’s trust and involvement in HIV/STI and drug abuse research efforts.
Sexual Health Education, Empowerment, and Knowledge
(SHEEK)
SHEEK aims to examine college students’ perceptions of their sexual health. The study seeks to understand the decision-making processes related to sexual health and to reflect on personal sexual health education experiences. Issues related to sexual empowerment, sexual assertiveness, intravaginal practices, and gynecologic knowledge are centered in this research project.
The SHEER Lab 