Adding STI testing to PrEP services for women
Integrated Female Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing for HIV Epidemic Control through PrEP: The IN-STEP study
This project adds testing for common sexually transmitted infections to PrEP services to help women ages 15–39 start and keep using HIV prevention medication.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11262285 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be randomly assigned to either routine symptom-based screening alone or screening plus diagnostic testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomonas, and syphilis. The team will offer point-of-care or lab STI tests, treat any infections found, and connect women to PrEP services. Researchers will follow participants to see whether adding STI testing increases PrEP starts and longer-term PrEP use among women aged 15–39. The work focuses on clinics in high-HIV-burden areas and includes follow-up visits to monitor care and medication use.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Women ages 15–39 who are sexually active and live in or access care in high-HIV-burden communities would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who are already living with HIV, are outside the age range, or are unwilling to consider PrEP or clinic follow-up would not benefit from joining this trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help more women at risk start and stay on PrEP, lowering their chance of acquiring HIV.
How similar studies have performed: Research shows curable STIs are markers of future HIV risk, but routinely integrating multiplex cSTI testing into PrEP programs for women is a newer approach with limited prior implementation evidence.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Grabowski, Mary Kathryn — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Grabowski, Mary Kathryn
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 below.