Justin Knox, PhD
Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health - Assistant Professor of Clinical Implementation Science and Intervention (in Psychiatry)
Email: jrk2115@columbia.edu
Education
PhD, Epidemiology, Columbia UniversityMPH, Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University
MSc, Medical Anthropology, University College London
BA, Anthropology and Spanish, Middlebury College
BIO
Justin Knox is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Implementation Science and Intervention (in Psychiatry) at Columbia University. His research focuses on HIV and substance use among racial and sexual minorities, both domestically and globally. He is the MPI of an R01 study (R01DA054553; MPI: Duncan & Knox) that seeks to investigate relationships between cannabis use and HIV prevention behaviors and biological vulnerability to HIV infection among Black men who have sex with men (MSM). He is also the PI of an R21 study (R21DA053156; PI: Knox) that seeks to investigate relationships between stimulant use and HIV care and prevention among Black MSM. He is also the PI of a K01 award (K01AA028199; PI: Knox) to develop and evaluate an intervention that aims to improve HIV treatment outcomes and reduce alcohol use in heavy-drinking Black MSM.Dr. Knox earned his PhD in Epidemiology from Columbia University; his dissertation focused on substance use and HIV risk among social networks of Black South African men who have sex with men, work funded by an F31 from NIDA and the U.S. Fulbright Student Program. Dr. Knox has an MPH from Columbia University, an MSc in Medical Anthropology from University College London, and a Bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College. He also served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Swaziland.
Projects
Principal Investigator, Intervening to Improve HIV Treatment and Reduce Drinking in Young, Black Men Who Have Sex With Men. Active
Principal Investigator, The Siyaphambili Substance Use Study: Exploring Substance Use and Its Treatment in the Context of Achieving Sustained ART Adherence among Female Sex Workers. Active
Principal Investigator, Cannabis Use, PrEP and HIV Transmission Risk Among Black MSM in Chicago. Completed
Principal Investigator, Formative Research on How to Deliver Alcohol Interventions in the Context of HIV Prevention and Care among Black Sexual Minority Men. Completed
Principal Investigator, Heavy Cannabis Use, Neurocognition and PrEP Care Engagement among Young Black Sexual Minority Men. Completed
Principal Investigator, Social Environmental Drivers of Stimulant Use and Its Impact on HIV Prevention and Treatment in Black Men Who Have Sex With Men. Completed
Publications
Recent
Ferraris CM, Gruver RS, George G, Davidson LL, Desmond C, Santoro AF, Besharati S, Knox J (2025).
Intimate partner violence and determinants of HIV seroconversion among female caregivers in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa: Insights from the Asenze longitudinal study
AIDS and Behavior [Epub 2025 May 6]. doi: 10.1007/s10461-025-04697-9.
Intimate partner violence and determinants of HIV seroconversion among female caregivers in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa: Insights from the Asenze longitudinal study
AIDS and Behavior [Epub 2025 May 6]. doi: 10.1007/s10461-025-04697-9.
Moline T, Duncan DT, Knox J, Regan S, Mehranbod CA, Shrader CH, Schneider J, Kim B (2025).
Neighborhood factors as correlates of alcohol use in the N2 cohort study of Black sexual minority men and transgender women
Journal of Urban Health, 102 (2), 400-412. doi: 10.1007/s11524-024-00942-z. PMCID: PMC12031704.
Neighborhood factors as correlates of alcohol use in the N2 cohort study of Black sexual minority men and transgender women
Journal of Urban Health, 102 (2), 400-412. doi: 10.1007/s11524-024-00942-z. PMCID: PMC12031704.
Shrader CH, Duncan DT, Santoro A, Geng E, Kranzler HR, Hasin D, Shelley D, Kutner B, Sherman SE, Chen YT, Durrell M, Eavou R, Hillary H, Goedel W, Schneider JA, Knox JR (2025).
Social network alcohol use is associated with individual-level alcohol use among Black sexually minoritized men and gender-expansive people: Findings from the Neighborhoods and Networks (N2) cohort study
Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research, 49 (4), 783-791. doi: 10.1111/acer.70009.
Social network alcohol use is associated with individual-level alcohol use among Black sexually minoritized men and gender-expansive people: Findings from the Neighborhoods and Networks (N2) cohort study
Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research, 49 (4), 783-791. doi: 10.1111/acer.70009.
Schluth CG, Rosen JG, Mcingana M, Rucinski KB, Knox JR, Comins CA, Steingo J, Shipp L, Makama S, Phetlhu DR, Mishra S, Hausler H, Baral SD, Schwartz SR (2025).
Longitudinal patterns and predictors of opioid and stimulant use initiation and cessation among female sex workers living with HIV in South Africa
Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 269, 112593. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112593. PMCID: PMC12047669.
Longitudinal patterns and predictors of opioid and stimulant use initiation and cessation among female sex workers living with HIV in South Africa
Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 269, 112593. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112593. PMCID: PMC12047669.
Janson S, Mushy SE, McPherson M, Mhando F, Jennings Mayo-Wilson L, Iseselo MK, Saleem H, Kamwela J, Issango J, Knox J, Mbita G, Madut DB, Ostermann J, Thielman N, Mwasa B, Conserve DF, BRIDGE Africa (2025).
Exploring perceptions of the services offered in Tanzanian sober houses: A mixed-methods study among service users and providers
BMC Health Services Research, 25 (1), 253. doi: 10.1186/s12913-025-12384-7. PMCID: PMC11829410.
Exploring perceptions of the services offered in Tanzanian sober houses: A mixed-methods study among service users and providers
BMC Health Services Research, 25 (1), 253. doi: 10.1186/s12913-025-12384-7. PMCID: PMC11829410.
Notable
Safer sex intentions modify the relationship between substance use and sexual risk behavior among black South African men who have sex with men
International Journal of STD and AIDS, 30 (8), 786-794. doi: 10.1177/0956462418825333. PMCID: PMC6765215.
Knox J, Reddy V, Lane T, Lovasi G, Hasin D, Sandfort T (2017).
Determinants of hazardous drinking among Black South African men who have sex with men
Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 180, 14-21. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.07.036. PMCID: PMC5648600.
Knox J, Reddy V, Lane T, Hasin D, Sandfort T (2017).
Substance use and sexual risk behavior among Black South African men who have sex with men: The moderating effects of reasons for drinking and safer sex intentions
AIDS and Behavior, 21 (7), 2023-2032. doi: 10.1007/s10461-016-1652-y. PMCID: PMC5484757.
Dr. Knox's My Bibliography Profile