1  Abstract

During the 2022 mpox outbreak, queer and trans New Yorkers built their own data infrastructure when traditional systems lagged behind. The result was MPX NYC, a rapid, anonymous network-mapping study led by the RESPND-MI collective. Using a new analytic framework—SSNAC (Social and Spatial Network Analysis with Causal Interpretation)—the team showed how patterns of movement and gathering shaped transmission and how targeted, neighborhood-based interventions could make prevention more efficient. Beyond its scientific findings, the project proved that rigorous, community-led research is possible at city scale—offering a practical model for what a People’s Department of Health could look like.