A new approach to improve HIV prevention and care in rural Appalachia
Official title: A Novel Intervention Using Evidence-Based Strategies to Improve Health Outcomes in Rural Appalachia .
Funded at Wake Forest University Health Sciences · NIH-11411611 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests a community-based plan using CHWs and mobile tools to boost PrEP, doxyPEP, and condom use among MSM in rural Appalachia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $724,382 |
| NIH project number | 1R01NR022594-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11411611 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are MSM living in rural Appalachia who are willing to participate with CHWs and use mobile support tools.
✕Less likely to help
Some participants may not experience personal benefit if they do not engage with the intervention or prefer other prevention strategies.
What this research studies
People in rural Appalachia who are at risk for HIV would benefit from a carefully designed program that brings prevention tools and information to their communities. The research partners will tailor an intervention, train community health workers, and use mobile health support to encourage safer sexual practices. Over four years, the team will measure how well the program works by following participants before, right after, and six months later, with a group-randomized design. About 160 individuals across several social networks will participate to see if the approach reduces HIV risk and increases preventive measures. This project builds on established community partnerships to translate evidence into real-world preventive care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could reduce HIV transmission and increase access to PrEP and doxyPEP for MSM in rural Appalachia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous CBPR-based prevention efforts have shown improvements in uptake of PrEP and prevention behaviors in similar settings, though this exact approach is being tested in this population.
Where this research is happening
-
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Winston-Salem, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rhodes, Scott D — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Rhodes, Scott D
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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.