A long-acting vaginal ring to prevent genital herpes and pregnancy
Official title: A Novel, Multi-compartment Intravaginal Ring for Prevention of Genital Herpes and Unintended Pregnancy
Funded at Oak Crest Institute of Science · NIH-11361701 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new vaginal ring that slowly releases antiviral and contraceptive ingredients to help prevent herpes and unintended pregnancy for women.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oak Crest Institute of Science NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Monrovia, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $815,431 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI175437-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11361701 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women seeking long-acting, user-controlled protection against herpes, HPV, HIV, and pregnancy.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals seeking non-vaginal methods or those with contraindications to vaginal rings may not benefit.
What this research studies
This grant focuses on a next-generation intravaginal ring that could deliver an antiviral peptide along with sperm-suppressing agents over an extended period. The approach aims to simplify protection by combining prevention of herpes, HPV, HIV, and pregnancy in one user-controlled product. The research includes designing a multi-compartment ring and testing its delivery characteristics to ensure steady, long-term release. If successful, this could offer a convenient option for women to protect their sexual health without daily or pericoital dosing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could provide a convenient, multipurpose protection method against sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests multipurpose prevention technologies can improve uptake and adherence, but this exact two-drug, multi-compartment IVR is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Oak Crest Institute of Science
Monrovia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Baum, Marc Michael — Oak Crest Institute of Science
- Study coordinator: Baum, Marc Michael
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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.