Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

I will present my research at the CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity (III) New Investigator Forum in King City, Ontario, in April 2026. This national event brings together early-career researchers working in infection, immunity, and population health to share findings, learn from mentors, and strengthen Canada's HIV and STI research community. My presentation, titled "Is it Partner Number or Group Sex? STI Risk Among Urban Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver," explores why bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are more common among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) who attend group sex events. We wanted to know whether this pattern is explained simply by having more sexual partners, or by other contextual factors. Using data from nearly 1,500 participants in three Canadian cities, we compared men who took part in group sex with similar men who did not, matching them on partner number and other key characteristics. We found that B-STIs were more prevalent among GBM who attended events that facilitate condomless anal sex and/or substance use-sometimes referred to as "party-and-play" or "bareback" events -while other types of group sex did not show this same pattern. These findings highlight that STI prevention for group sex should focus on the conditions that shape how sex occurs, rather than on partner number alone. By identifying where existing prevention strategies can be strengthened, this work supports Canada's goals of reducing sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections through community-engaged, evidence-based, and health-equity-oriented approaches. Presenting this research at the New Investigator Forum will help build collaborations and enhance my ability to translate these insights into effective public health action.