Czarina Navos Behrends, PhD

Associate Professor of Population Health Sciences

Comparative Effectiveness and Outcomes (Population Health Sciences)

Contact & profiles

czb2002@med.cornell.edu

Appointments

Associate Professor of Population Health SciencesPrimary
Population Health Sciences · 2026–
Assistant Professor
Weill Cornell Graduate School — Healthcare Policy & Research · 2021–

Past Appointments

Assistant Professor of Population Health Sciences
Population Health Sciences · 2020–2026
Assistant Professor of Healthcare Policy and Research
Population Health Sciences · 2019–2020
Instructor in Healthcare Policy and Research
Population Health Sciences · 2017–2019

Show all 4

Postdoctoral Associate in Healthcare Policy and Research
Population Health Sciences · 2015–2017

Centers

Education

Ph.D., Epidemiology
University of California, Davis, 2014
M.P.H.
University of California, Davis, 2010
B.A., Biology and English
University of San Diego, 2005

Overview

Dr. Behrends' current work focuses on improving HIV and HCV testing and treatment for people who inject drugs in different settings (e.g., substance use disorder treatment programs, syringe exchange programs, etc) and improving strategies for preventing and reversing opioid overdose fatalities. Dr. Behrends' research areas includes harm reduction services, public health, epidemiology of infectious diseases, health services research, and policy impact in the areas of substance use.

Highlights

1
Drug and alcohol dependence · 2022
CNCzarina Navos Behrends SNShashi N Kapadia BSBruce Schackman
PMID: 35124386PMCID: PMC8772135DOIFirst author54 citations
2
Journal of general internal medicine · 2021
SNShashi N Kapadia BSBruce Schackman CNCzarina Navos Behrends
PMID: 33469774PMCID: PMC7815286DOISenior author37 citations
3
Substance abuse · 2021
CNCzarina Navos Behrends BSBruce Schackman
PMID: 34666633PMCID: PMC9048167DOIFirst author14 citations

Publications

Funding

15 View NIH portfolio on RePORTER ↗

Active

5 grants

Sub-PI
Reversing Overdose Epidemics through Simulation, Collaboration, and Unified Efforts (RESCUE)
National Institute on Drug Abuse · 2024–2028 · via University of Minnesota
R33DA062346-02
Sub-PI
Understanding the short- and long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the overdose crisis
National Institute on Drug Abuse · 2023–2028 · via New York University
R01DA058991-04
PI
Expansion of Mail-Delivered Harm Reduction Services in the U.S.
National Institute on Drug Abuse · 2022–2027
R01DA057654-02
Sub-PI
A comparative evaluation of overdose prevention programs in New York City and Rhode Island
National Institute on Drug Abuse · 2023–2027 · via New York University
R01DA058277-04
Co-I
CDC Overdose Data to Action: Local
Fund for Public Health in New York, Inc. · 2023–2026Contract
SA 241817-01

Completed grants (10)

Sub-PI
Addressing risk through Community Treatment for Infectious disease and Opioid use disorder Now (ACTION) among justice-involved populations
National Institute on Drug Abuse · 2020–2025 · via Yale University
U01DA053039-05
Co-I
DAT-18-06 Prevention and Rescue Of Fentanyl and Other Opioid Overdoses Using Optimized Naloxone Distribution Strategies (PROFOUND)
National Institute on Drug Abuse · 2019–2025
U01DA047408-01A1
Sub-PI
Pew Charitable Trust Community Opioid Effort and Evaluation Project
Pew Charitable Trusts · 2020–2024 · via The REACH Project, Inc.
TRP 201434-03
Co-I
DAT 18-06 Feasibility and Acceptability of HIV, HCV, and Opioid Use Disorder Services in Syringe Service Programs
National Institute on Drug Abuse · 2015–2024· 4 renewals
R01DA027379-09S1
MPI
A Multi-Site Multi-Setting RCT of Integrated HIV Prevention and HCV Care for PWID
National Institute on Drug Abuse · 2017–2024 · via Columbia University
R01DA045713-05
PI
Improving Access to Harm Reduction Services for People who Use Drugs in New York State: Evaluation and Feasibility of Expanding Service Delivery Options for Syringe Services Programs
New York State Department of Health · 2022–2023
DOH01-T37782GG-3450000
Co-I
A Cluster RCT to Increase HIV Testing in Substance Use Treatment Programs
National Institute on Drug Abuse · 2016–2022 · via Columbia University
R01DA043130-01
Co-I
Evaluation of Community-based Drug User Health Hubs to Reduce Opioid Overdoses in NY State
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · 2018–2022 · via Health Research INC (Center for Community Health)
5 R01 CE00302202-02
Co-I
Localized Economic Modeling to Optimize Public Health Strategies for HIV treatment and Prevention
National Institute on Drug Abuse · 2016–2021 · via Simon Fraser University
R01DA041747-01
KP
Supervised Injection Facility Feasibility Study
Fund for Public Health in New York, Inc. · 2017–2017Contract
FPHNY SA

Clinical research

Active

4 studies

PI
Feasibility of increasing uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for underserved people who inject drugs with high risk of HIV
Weill Medical College of Cornell University · OPEN TO ACCRUAL (as of 2026)
PI
Ending HIV: Bringing Integrated Prevention and Treatment Services to People Who Use Drugs Where They Live
Yale University · OPEN TO ACCRUAL (as of 2025)
PI
Evaluation of overdose prevention centers in New York City
NYU Langone · OPEN TO ACCRUAL (as of 2024)
PI
Understanding the short- and long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the overdose crisis
NYU Langone · OPEN TO ACCRUAL (as of 2024)

Completed & closed trials (3)

PI
Addressing Risk Through Community Treatment for Infectious Disease and Opioid Use Disorder Now (ACTION) Among Justice-involved Populations
NA · National Institute on Drug Abuse · CLOSED TO ACCRUAL (as of 2026)
Opioid Use Disorder; Infectious Disease; Risk Reduction Behavior; Substance Use; Substance Abuse; Stimulant Use Disorder
NCT05286879
PI
Evaluating the REACH Medical model of care on improving health outcomes for people who inject drugs in Ithaca, New York.
Weill Medical College of Cornell University · CLOSED TO ACCRUAL (as of 2025)
PI
A Multi-site Multi-Setting Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) of Integrated HIV Prevention and HCV Care for People Who Inject Drugs (PWID)
NA · Weill Medical College of Cornell University · CLOSED TO ACCRUAL (as of 2023)
HIV Prevention; HCV; Opioid Use; Intravenous Drug Usage
NCT03981445

News mentions

1 View all WCM news ↗

Research Highlights Prevention Efforts in Fentanyl Overdoses
January 16, 2025
The overwhelming majority of those in New York City who obtained a naloxone kit to counteract opioid overdose had a high need for the drug, according to a new study by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Mentoring

SG
Simon Gagliardi
MD mentee · Class of 2025