A crowdsourced, survivor-led approach to boost HIV/STI/HCV testing and overdose-prevention service use for sex trafficking survivors in NYC
Official title: A Citizen Science Approach to Increase HIV/STI/HCV Testing and Substance Use Service Utilization Among Survivors of Sex Trafficking Living in New York City
Funded at Columbia Univ New York Morningside · NIH-11568706 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A NYC-based study tests a survivor-driven digital messaging approach and at-home tests to help sex trafficking survivors increase HIV/STI/HCV testing and use overdose-prevention resources.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia Univ New York Morningside NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $164,498 |
| NIH project number | 3R34DA063049-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11568706 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal for survivors of sex trafficking in NYC who are willing to participate in digital messaging development and remote testing.
✕Less likely to help
Survivors who cannot or prefer not to use digital messaging, self-testing, or online delivery of supplies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project partners with survivors of sex trafficking in New York City to create digital messages that encourage HIV, STI, and HCV testing and to promote overdose-prevention kits. It combines crowdsourced content with remote, self-collection testing and online delivery of prevention supplies. The study will compare a survivor-driven messaging intervention to standard information in a randomized design to see which approach increases care-seeking and testing uptake. If successful, it could offer a scalable model to improve access to critical health services for a highly underserved population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Potentially greater access to testing and overdose-prevention resources for survivors, leading to earlier detection and safer care.
How similar studies have gone: Previous crowdsourcing approaches have shown promise in public health messaging, but this exact survivor-led, remote testing model for this population is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia Univ New York Morningside
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Davis, Alissa — Columbia Univ New York Morningside
- Study coordinator: Davis, Alissa
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.