Adolescent consent for HIV prevention in Rakai, Uganda
Official title: Improving understanding of Capacity to consent to sensitive biomedical HIV prevention Research among adolescents in Rakai Uganda (ICARE)
Funded at Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy · NIH-11471078 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project works with teens in Rakai, Uganda to find better ways for them to understand and give permission to take part in HIV prevention work and to learn about oral and injectable PrEP.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | April 8, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $217,477 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH134695-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11471078 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adolescents and young adults in the Rakai region of Uganda, especially those around 12–18 years old who may be eligible for or interested in HIV prevention like PrEP.
✕Less likely to help
People who live outside the Rakai area, older adults, or those not involved in HIV prevention efforts are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participating.
What this research studies
You'll be invited to join researchers through the Rakai Community Cohort Study to talk about how you understand giving permission for HIV-related work. They will compare how younger and older teens make decisions and try different ways of explaining consent to see which ones help you show understanding. The team will also check who would qualify for oral or injectable PrEP, ask about beliefs and interest in these prevention options, and collect information to guide future trials. At the end they will create a digital toolkit meant to help teens like you join HIV prevention efforts more easily and safely.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could make it easier for adolescents to take part in HIV prevention research and access PrEP by reducing consent barriers and improving how information is presented.
How similar studies have gone: While PrEP has been highly effective in adults, using developmentally tailored consent approaches and digital toolkits for adolescents is relatively new and still being tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kreniske, Philip — Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy
- Study coordinator: Kreniske, Philip
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Making HIV prevention and care easier for Ugandan youth
A Ugandan study is testing ways to help adolescents and young adults (15–24) prevent HIV and stay healthy, using long-acting PrEP and youth-friendly services.
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Innovative HIV Prevention and Care Interventions for Adolescents and Young Adults in Uganda
A Ugandan research team is testing practical, youth-focused strategies to help 15-24 year-olds using HIV prevention or treatment services stay healthy and engaged in care.
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Adolescent girls in Uganda: a long-term look at how money empowerment and family support affect HIV prevention, care, and mental health
A long-term study in rural Uganda will test whether an intervention that combines economic empowerment and family strengthening can help HIV-negative and HIV-affected adolescent girls move safely into young adulthood.
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Long-term HIV prevention and mental health support for adolescent girls and young women in Uganda
A long-term program in rural Uganda tests if combining economic support and family strengthening helps teenage girls stay HIV-free and improve mental health as they grow into young adults.
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Harnessing male peer networks to boost HIV testing and PrEP use
A large clinical trial in South Africa tests whether giving HIV self-test kits through male peer networks, with phone support, increases PrEP uptake among men.
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Harnessing men's peer networks to boost HIV self-testing and PrEP use
A large project in South Africa tests whether giving HIV self-test kits through men’s social networks, with phone support, can lead to more men starting PrEP and using HIV testing.
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.