Christina S. Meade
Associate Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Overview
Dr. Meade’s domestic research program focuses on predictors of HIV risk behavior in adults with substance use and psychiatric disorders, and the relationship between neuropsychiatric conditions and continued risk behavior in HIV-positive adults. She is particularly interested in how drug addiction and HIV infection impact executive functions, such as decision making, that lead individuals to engage in risky behaviors. Many of her current projects incorporate MRI to isolate the effects of addiction and HIV on both brain function and structure. Dr. Meade is also interested in the development of evidence-based treatments to improve cognitive functioning and reduce risk behaviors among drug users.
Given that most people infected or affected by HIV/AIDS live in Sub-Saharan Africa, Dr. Meade’s international research program is based in South Africa. The Western Cape has experienced a dramatic increase in methamphetamine use since the early 2000s, and there is concern that it may further fuel the HIV epidemic in this country. Current projects focus on characterizing drug addiction and HIV risk behaviors in this understudied group, both in in community and treatment settings, and ultimately increasing uptake of HIV services to improve health outcomes and reduce the continued spread of HIV.
Selected Grants
Interdisciplinary Research Training Program in AIDS awarded by National Institutes of Health (Mentor). 2010 to 2025
Role of cannabis on HIV-related cognitive impairment: a brain connectomics study awarded by National Institutes of Health (Principal Investigator). 2018 to 2023
MRI data fusion to investigate effects of drug abuse on HIV neurological complications awarded by National Institutes of Health (Principal Investigator). 2018 to 2023
Mobile health interventions for varenicline adherence among HIV-positive smokers awarded by National Institutes of Health (Co-Mentor). 2017 to 2022
A Systems Biology Approach to HIV-associated Neurocognitive Impairment: Role of Drug Abuse and Neuroinflammation awarded by National Institutes of Health (Co-Principal Investigator). 2016 to 2021
Decision Making and HIV Risk: New Approaches to neuroAIDS Research in Drug Users awarded by National Institutes of Health (Principal Investigator). 2015 to 2020
Testing a Biopsychosocial Model of Minority Stress and Health for HIV-Positive Men awarded by (Principal Investigator). 2019 to 2020
Cognitive Training to Reduce Impulsivity in HIV-infected Cocaine Users awarded by National Institutes of Health (Principal Investigator). 2016 to 2019
NeuroAIDS research with disadvantaged drug users awarded by National Institutes of Health (Principal Investigator). 2014 to 2017
A Compute Cluster for Brain Imaging and Analysis awarded by National Institutes of Health (Minor User). 2016 to 2017
Pages
Miles, M. S., et al. “Emotional distress in african american women with hiv.” HIV: Issues with Mental Health and Illness, 2014, pp. 35–50. Scopus, doi:10.4324/9781315785509. Full Text
Sikkema, Kathleen J., et al. Community-level HIV prevention for persons with severe mental illness living in supportive housing programs: a pilot intervention study. Vol. 33, 2007, pp. 121–35. Pubmed, doi:10.1300/J005v33n01_10. Full Text
Towe, Sheri L., et al. “Reciprocal Influences of HIV and Cannabinoids on the Brain and Cognitive Function.” J Neuroimmune Pharmacol, May 2020. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/s11481-020-09921-y. Full Text
Meade, Christina S., et al. “HIV Prevalence and Associated Risks in a Respondent-Driven Sample of Illicit Stimulant Users in a Southern United States City.” Aids Behav, Jan. 2020. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/s10461-020-02793-6. Full Text
Patel, Puja, et al. “Problematic alcohol use among fathers in Kenya: Poverty, people, and practices as barriers and facilitators to help acceptance.” Int J Drug Policy, vol. 75, Jan. 2020, p. 102576. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.10.003. Full Text
Meade, Christina S., et al. “Cocaine-related alterations in fronto-parietal gray matter volume correlate with trait and behavioral impulsivity.” Drug Alcohol Depend, vol. 206, Jan. 2020, p. 107757. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.107757. Full Text
Meade, Christina S., et al. “Synergistic effects of marijuana abuse and HIV infection on neural activation during a cognitive interference task.” Addict Biol, vol. 24, no. 6, Nov. 2019, pp. 1235–44. Pubmed, doi:10.1111/adb.12678. Full Text
Skalski, Linda M., et al. “Sexual Orientation, Religious Coping, and Drug Use in a Sample of HIV-Infected African-American Men Living in the Southern USA.” J Relig Health, vol. 58, no. 4, Aug. 2019, pp. 1368–81. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/s10943-019-00791-0. Full Text
Hobkirk, Andréa L., et al. “Reward and executive control network resting-state functional connectivity is associated with impulsivity during reward-based decision making for cocaine users.” Drug Alcohol Depend, vol. 194, Jan. 2019, pp. 32–39. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.09.013. Full Text
Towe, Sheri L., et al. “A Comparison of Motivations for Marijuana Use in HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative Adults.” Aids Behav, vol. 22, no. 9, Sept. 2018, pp. 2807–14. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/s10461-018-2123-4. Full Text
Bell, Ryan P., et al. “Structural connectome differences in HIV infection: brain network segregation associated with nadir CD4 cell count.” J Neurovirol, vol. 24, no. 4, Aug. 2018, pp. 454–63. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/s13365-018-0634-4. Full Text
Skalski, Linda M., et al. “Memory Impairment in HIV-Infected Individuals with Early and Late Initiation of Regular Marijuana Use.” Aids Behav, vol. 22, no. 5, May 2018, pp. 1596–605. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/s10461-017-1898-z. Full Text
Pages
Hobkirk, Andrea L., et al. “FOOD INSECURITY IS ASSOCIATED WITH NEUROCOGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT AMONG INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH HIV.” Annals of Behavioral Medicine, vol. 50, OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC, 2016, pp. S246–S246.