Research

Dr. López focuses on sexual assault against gay Latino and/or Black men. His primary research objective is focused on developing culturally responsive, trauma-informed and evidence-based health interventions for gay Latino and Black sexual assault survivors in the United States. Dr. Lopez has also participated in research in Ghana with Dr. LaRon Nelson. His research areas also include Latino MSM, immigration, violence against gay Black men, and the effects of COVID-19 on people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).

Dr. López has received funding from : Boston University, Yale University, NIMH.

His research is in three main areas:

1. Sexual Assault of Latino and/or Black Gay and Bisexual Men

Dr. López’s main area of research is understanding and seeking to improve the reporting process, and health care service provision for Black and/or Latino male sexual assault survivors. Much of his publications and current grants are focused on how anti-Black and anti-Latine racism, and homophobia affect Black and/or Latino cisgender male sexual assault survivors.

2. Trauma and Violence Against LGBTQIA+ and/or People of Color.

Much of his research has also sought to understand discrimination and stigma against Black and Latinx individuals of the LGBTQIA+ community. Lastly, he has been engaged in research focused on the unique forms of intimate partner violence and other forms of violence against LGBT college and university students.

3. HIV and STI Prevention Among Black MSM
Dr. López’s ongoing research has been to address HIV and STI disparities among Black men who have sex with men (MSM), including gay and bisexual men (GBM). Most recently, he has two current studies focused on medical care provision for Black and Latino gay and bisexual men who have been sexually assaulted, funded by Boston University and Yale University.

He has previously served as consultant on a research study in Ghana to reduce stigma and increase HIV frequency testing among Ghanaian MSM. He also has researched the effects of COVID-19 on People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and collaborated on the design of an HIV structural intervention model for Black MSM and Black transgender women.