Kate M Guthrie, Ph.D., is  Professor of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, CBPM, The Miriam Hospital. Her research focuses on the use of qualitative and quantitative methodologies to characterize user sensory perceptions and experiences of product use (perceptibility) in the development of biomedical products and devices during preclinical development. Her work highlights the development of measures to evaluate products being developed, and using those measures to optimize the user/patient experience. The goal is to better understand what products feel like when used, as well as the meaning users derive from those experiences, thereby facilitating positive user-centered product development and resulting in increased acceptability of, and adherence to, treatment and prevention products. In addition, Dr. Guthrie studies both patient and provider experiences navigating clinical treatment, prevention and the healthcare system writ large. In this sphere, she is particularly interested in improving the quality of the care experience in patients with chronic illness and those experiencing end-of-life processes.

CURRENT RESEARCH:

R01AT011184 (Guthrie, Co-Investigator; Bock, PI) is a multi-site feasibility and fidelity study examining yoga as an adjunct to improve management of Type-2 Diabetes

Project MARSH (HU0001-14-1-0061; Guthrie, Co-investigator; Landoll, PI; Vargas, TMH PI) is a study funded through the USUHS. Using a MOST optimization straegy, we aim to adapt and evaluate intervention strategies that reduce health-risking sexual behavior in active-duty military populations.

R43 HD108823. “User-based identification of preferred design features for a non-hormonal contraceptive vaginal ring.” (Guthrie, Co-investigator; Kushiro, PI; Vargas, Co-I)

Dr. Guthrie also works with her colleagues on other behavioral health projects. Her methodologies focus on qualitative and mixed methods: in this capacity, she studies numerous other behavioral health concerns, including pulmonary hypertension, sexual and reproductive health, quality of life, sleep, smoking cessation, and linkages to care, among others.

PAST RESEARCH:

Q-PAP (R01 HL130702-S1; Guthrie, Co-Investigator; Bourjeily, PI) is a qualitative study among women of reproductive age, both pregnant and not pregnant, who have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and advised to use CPAP therapy. The study will explore barriers and facilitators to adherence among adopters-adherent, adopters-nonadherent, and non-adopters. Because sleep apnea can adversely impact a host of co-morbid conditions in pregnancy and because Black women face an unacceptably high burden of maternal morbidity and mortality, we plan to enroll 50% Black women to explore these issues in particular.

Project DRUM-S (U19 AI101961; Guthrie, sub Principal Investigator), is an NIH Integrated Preclinical/Clinical Program (IPCP), an award mechanism designed to conduct interdisciplinary research in a preclinical setting with the goal of developing safe and effective biomedical prevention products. This particular project seeks to develop a topical microbicide that can be used in either the rectum or the vagina, or both. Dr. Guthrie's team is focused on developing psychometrically validated user sensory perception and experience (USPE; perceptibility) scales for rectal use, building on their previous work (below) in vaginal USPEs. Target populations include both men who have sex with men (regardless of sexual orientation) and women who have anal sex. The Guthrie lab works closely with bioengineers and formulation scientists, as well as the lead Principal Investogator (Buckheit; ImQuest BioScience) which developed the pharmaceutical agent being tested.

Project 4 of the Oak Crest Institute of Science's Integrated Preclinical/Clinical Program (U19 AI113048: Guthrie, sub Principal Investigator). This U19 is working to develop an innovative intravaginal ring drug delivery system. Dr. Guthrie's role is to conduct the formative work necessary for development of perceptibility and acceptability measures similar in purpose and scope to those her team has developed for vaginal formulations composed of soft materials (such as vaginal gels, films and suppositories). Positing that biomechanical and materials properties of intravaginal rings can also be felt and evaluated by users, and, further, positing that these sensory experiences play a critical role in user opinions and decision-making regarding future use, Dr. Guthrie's team is working to develop USPE measures applicable to the intravaginal ring use experience. 

Project WISH (K24 HD062645: Guthrie, Principal Investigator), is an NICHD-funded midcareer development award with 2 primary goals. One goal involves the further development of Dr Guthrie's career into sexual and reproductive health (SRH) more broadly (i.e., beyond HIV prevention). The research study involves translating perceptibility- and adherence-related work to the realm of contraception and sexual lubricant use. The goal is to develop a framework for understanding "Effective Use" of SRH products. The second primary goal of the K24 award is to provide protected time for Dr. Guthrie to mentor junior faculty and post-doctoral trainees in qualitative and mixed methods research design and implementation. Dr. Guthrie, along with Dr. Rochelle Rosen, a long-time colleague and medical anthropologist, co-lead an introductory seminar on qualitative and mixed methods every year, and Dr. Guthrie directs a skills-based workshop series in qualitative design and methods.

The FAB Project (R01 AI112002: Guthrie sub Principal Investigator), is a Preclinical Innovation Program award designed to promote innovative strategies in nonvaccine biomedical prevention. Dr. Guthrie's team is responsible for facilitating the iterative development of vaginal drug delivery formulations from drug-eluting fiber technology. The project iterates between user-centered design and preclinical safety and efficacy studies, wirth the goal of developing both a pericoital and sustained release version of the drug-eluting fiber forms.

Project WIND and Project 6 (preclinical study) (U19 AI096398: Guthrie, Project WIND Lead Investigator; Co-Investigator for parent U19), is an NIH Integrated Preclinical/Clinical Program (IPCP), as award mechanism designed to conduct interdisciplinary research in a preclinical setting with the goal of developing safe and effective biomedical prevention products. This particular project seeks to develop an HIV prevention product using a novel topical formulation (vaginal film) and delivering a new class of active pharmaceutical ingredient (plant-derived monoclonal antibodies). Dr. Guthrie's team is tasked with using qualitative methods to determine how best to help potential participants understand the product and how it works, so that appropriate informed consent procedures and other support for participation in the study can be developed. Further, they will us the formative data to adapt existing USPE scales for use with vaginal film products.

Project MIST (R33 AI076967; Morrow, sub Principal Investigator) is an NIH Microbicide Innovation Program (MIP) award, an award mechanism designed to accelerate and advance innovation in the development of anti-HIV microbicides. The project is designed to expand the findings of Project LINK (below) by specifically exploring the impact of formulation volume on user sensory perceptions and experiences (USPE), as well as being the first study to explore USPE in vaginal film use. Like Project LINK, the ultimate goal is to develop a framework for developing vaginal formulations that meet specific preclinical criteria for user sensory perception and experience measures (developed in Project LINK), thus conserving resources (by removing unacceptable products from the pipeline early) and accelerating acceptable products through the development pipeline and increasing the likelihood of greater adherence during clinical trials.

Project LINK (R21/R33 MH80591; Morrow, Principal Investigator) is an NIH Microbicide Innovation Program (MIP) award, an award mechanism designed to accelerate and advance innovation in the development of anti-HIV microbicides. The project is designed to provide proof-of-concept that vaginal microbicide users can feel and discriminate variations in product formulations, and that these perceptions impact the user's willingness to use the product. The ultimate goal is to develop a framework for developing vaginal gels that meet specific preclinical criteria for acceptability dimensions, thus conserving resources (by removing unacceptable products from the pipeline early) and accelerating acceptable products through the development pipeline and increasing the likelihood of greater adherence during clinical trials.

Project MAPLE (U19 AI077289 (Buckheit, PI): Long Acting Acceptable Microbicides: Novel Delivery, Activity & Pharmacodynamics, Project 3) was one of three studies within the larger U19 mechanism. Its purpose was to explore the biophysical and biomechanical variables that impact product acceptability with respect to long-acting vaginal gels (LAGs) and intravaginal rings (IVRs). The goal was to provide guidance for the development of acceptable LAGs and IVRs for use as anti-HIV microbicides.

AID.1233-14-07567(Coffey, PI) was a USAID-funded study exploring the "Feasibility and Acceptability of SILCS Diaphragm as a Microbicide Delivery System." The study aim was to test the deployment characteristics, as well as feasibility and acceptability of, a delivery system combining a microbicide gel and the SILCS diaphragm to effectively deliver a vaginal gel formulated microbicide.

The Phoenix Project (R01 MH 064455; Morrow, Principal Investigator) was a NIMH-funded project with the primary goal of designing and evaluating measures of factors hypothesized to be related to vaginal microbicide acceptability. Several scales were identified and psychometrically validated. They include a "Willingness to Use Microbicides" scale, a "Relationship Quality " measure, a "Microbicide Confidence" Scale, a scale measuring the "Importance of Microbicide Characteristics," and a cognitive/behavioral Risk Index. Analyses support conceptualization of microbicide acceptability as a multi-factorial construct highly impacted by person-, product-, and context-related factors.

Dr. Guthrie (nee Morrow) served as the acceptability studies chair in both the HIV Prevention Network (HIVNET) and the HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN). Across four Phase-1 clinical safety trials of candidate vaginal microbicides (HPTN 009, HPTN 020, HPTN 050, HPTN 049) she and her teams have confirmed the overall acceptability of gel-formulated microbicides, and have explored factors hypothesized to be related to microbicide acceptability. These include the relationship context, the need or desire for a microbicide that not only prevents or reduces the likelihood of HIV infection, but also provides protection from other STDs and pregnancy, the need or desire to use a microbicide "covertly," such that the partner is unaware of its use, and the product's impact on sexual pleasure.

As Principal Investigator of Project START, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-funded HIV/STD behavioral prevention intervention development and evaluation project designed for young men leaving the incarcerated setting, she and her colleagues successfully conducted formative qualitative and quantitative studies culminating in the development of two intervention strategies. Primary outcome data from a randomized trial showed that the enhanced intervention (which focused on both HIV/STD prevention and transitional needs as men re-entered their communities) resulted in greater proportions of safer sex behavior than the standard intervention (a single-session HIV/STD prevention session). The intervention has completed development as a CDC REP study and currently enjoys its status as a CDC DEBI (Diffusion of Effective Behavioral Interventions) program.

CURRENT RESEARCH:

2017-2023       Co-Investigator. USUHS VPR-27320915. “Optimizing a Multi-Modal Intervention to Reduce Health-Risking Sexual Behavior.” (Landoll, PI; Vargas, Co-I).

2021-2024       Co-Investigator. R01 AT011184 “Establishing Multi-Site Feasibility and Fidelity of Yoga to Improve Management of Type 2 Diabetes.” (Bock, PI)

2022-2023       Co-Investigator. R43 HD108823. “User-based identification of preferred design features for a non-hormonal contraceptive vaginal ring.” (Kushiro, PI; Vargas, Co-I)

RECENT/PAST RESEARCH:

R01 HL130702-S1 (Guthrie, Co-I, Bourjeily, PI). Racial Disparities and their Impact on Adherence to Positive Airway Pressure Therapy in Pregnancy: Toward Improving Outcomes (Supplement to “Predictors of de novo development of sleep apnea in pregnancy”)U19 AI113048 (Guthrie, SubPI, Baum, PI)  NIAID  08/11/2014-07/31/2019:  Systematic Development of Antiretroviral Intravaginal Rings for HIV Prevention. Guthrie: Project 4 Behavioral Lead

Jenesis Innovative Outcomes (Vargas, PI; Guthrie, Mentor) United Therapeutics  01/01/2019-12/31/2020: Health-related quality of life: patient-focused strategies for measuring and improving sexual health and functioning among patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension

R34 AA023158-02 (Carey; Guthrie, Co-I):  NIAAA  03/01/16-08/31/19: Reducing Alcohol-related HIV/STI Risk for Women in Reproductive Health Clinics

U19 AI096398 and Supplement (Guthrie, suppPI; Anderson, PI) NIAID 8/1/2011-7/31/2019:  Monoclonal Antibody-Based Multipurpose Microbicides

R21 AT008830-02 (Bock; Guthrie, Co-I): NCCIH  08/01/15-05/31/17: Yoga as a Complementary Therapy for Type-2 Diabetes: An Initial Investigation

U19 AI101961 (Guthrie, SubPI, Buckheit, PI) NIAID: 06/01/12 – 05/31/17:  Development and Evaluation of Dual Compartment Combination Microbicides

K24 HD062645 (Guthrie, PI):NICHD: 04/01/2012-03/31/2017: Advancing Reproductive Health: Qualitative Methods & Interdisciplinary Mentorship

R21/R33MH080591 (Morrow, PI): NIMH 09/01/06-08/31/12
Linking Biophysical Functions of Microbicides to user Perception & Acceptability

PPA-09-023 (Morrow, PI); CONRAD 09/01/09-8/31/11
Evaluation of the Behavioral Measures of Acceptability of Two Vaginal Gels

R33 AI076967 (Morrow, subPI: Buckheit, PI): NIAID 11/1/09-2/28/13
Rational Development of Combination Microbicide Therapies

U19 AI077289 (Morrow, subPI; Buckheit, PI): NIAID 06/27/08-5/31/13
Development of Long Acting Acceptable Microbicides: Novel Delivery, Activity & Pharmacodynamics
Lead Investigator for Project 3, "Preclinical User Acceptability Studies of Long-Acting Vaginal Gels and Intravaginal Rings."

R01 AI112002 (Guthrie, SubPI, Woodrow, PI) NIAID  2/10/2014-1/31/2018:  Combination HIV prevention in drug-eluting fibers: designing for efficacy and use

R21/R33 AI094514 (Morrow, subPI; Hayes, PI)NIAID: 5/20/2011-4/30/2016
Designing Optimal Microbicide Delivery Integrating Rheology and Acceptability

AID.1233-14-07567-SUB (Coffey): USAID 11/01/07-02/28/10
Feasibility and Acceptability of SILCS Diaphragm as a Microbicide Delivery System.

1. Guthrie, KM. (in press). Qualitative Methods in Health Psychology. In Smith, TW & Anderson, NB (Associate Eds.). APA Handbook of Health Psychology, Volume 1, Foundations and Context. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
2. Morrow, KM., Tolley, E. & Carballo-Dieguez, A. (2013). Topical Microbicide Acceptability. In Stanberry L & Rosenthal, S. (Eds.), 2^nd edition. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, pp.229-250. Massachusetts: Elsevier.
3. Morrow, KM. (1995). Lesbian women and HIV/AIDS: An appeal for inclusion. In O'Leary, A. & Sweet Jemmott, L. (Eds.). Women at Risk: Issues in the Primary Prevention of AIDS, pp. 237-256. New York: Plenum.

2003 Citation Award. For Morrow, K., Costello, T., and Rosen, R. (2003, March). "Coloring in the Lines: Using Qualitative Data to Enhance Quantitative Findings: The Case of Microbicide Acceptability." Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 25 (supplement), D47.

2010-2011 Faculty Mentoring Award, Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.

2011 The Betty Marcus Women's Health Endowment Fund Award, Recognizing and Promoting Excellence in Community Service, Research, and Clinical Services for Women

2018 OWIMS 2018 Leadership Award, Office of Women in Medicine and Science, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University

Member, American Psychological Association

Member, American Psychological Association, Division 38 (Society for Health Psychology)

Fellow, Society of Behavioral Medicine

Member, International Society of Behavioral Medicine

Member, PHCR, Pulmonary Hypertension Clinicians & Researchers (past)

Member, AAHPM, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (past)

1996-2017 Lecturer: Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Pre-doctoral Core Seminar Series: HIV/AIDS seminar; Gay and Lesbian Issues.

1997-present Research Supervisor, Pre-doctoral Internship. Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University Clinical Psychology Training Consortium.

1997-2008 Guest Lecturer: Department of Anthropology/Department of Community Health, Brown University. AIDS: An International Perspective (BC0168).

1998-2017 Lecturer: Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Pre-doctoral Behavioral Medicine Track: HIV Prevention Interventions; Assessing HIV Risk.

1998-present Faculty Mentor: Brown University Senior Honors Theses and Medical School students.

1998-present Faculty Predoctoral Research Mentor (and/or Clinical Supervisor), Postdoctoral Research and Clinical Fellows. Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University; Department of Community Health, Brown University.

1999-2003 Guest Lecturer: Department of Psychology, Brown University. Behavioral Medicine (PY0130).

2001-2004 Guest Lecturer: Department of Community Health, Brown University: Introduction to Public Health (BC0032).

2002 Faculty Preceptor: Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University: Medical Interviewing (BI 371).

2002-present Faculty Mentor: NIH K-Award Recipients and junior faculty.

2003-2005 Adjunct Assistant Professor: Department of Psychology, Providence College: Introduction to Psychology (PSY100); Health Psychology (PSY225).

2008-2017    Director, Introduction to Qualitative Methods Seminar Series, Centers for Behavioral & Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.

2010 Guest Lecturer: Anthropology Department, Brown University: AIDS in Global Perspective (Anthropology 1020).

2011-2014 Faculty Lecturer. BIARI (Brown International Advanced Research Institutes), Global Health Institute, Office of International Affairs, Brown University.

2015-present    Guest Lecturer. Qualitative Methods in Health Research (PHP 2060). Brown University School of Public Health.

2022     Guest Lecturer. Health Psychology. Providence College.

2013-present  Director, Qualitative Science & Methods Training Program, DPHB, Alpert Medical School of Brown University: https://psych.med.brown.edu/research/research-core-facilities-and-resources/qualitative-science-and-methods-training-program