NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

An intervention to help minority women with HIV manage their health and substance use issues

Official title: mCARES: An HIV Adherence Intervention to Support Racial/Ethnic Minority Women with/at-risk of Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders

Funded at University of Miami School of Medicine · NIH-10894294 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing a helpful program called mCARES that sends personalized text messages to support women of color living with HIV, helping them stick to their treatment while also addressing mental health and social challenges they may face.

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Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Miami School of Medicine
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Coral Gables, United States)
Project startSeptember 30, 2022
Project endJuly 31, 2025
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$230,250
NIH project number5R34DA057150-03
Project IDNIH-10894294 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are racial and ethnic minority women living with HIV who may also be dealing with substance use and mental health disorders.

Less likely to help

Patients who are not racial or ethnic minorities or those who do not have HIV may not receive benefits from this research.

What this research studies

This research focuses on supporting racial and ethnic minority women living with HIV who face challenges such as mental health issues, substance use, and stigma. It employs a mobile health intervention called mCARES, which uses personalized text messaging and patient navigation to improve adherence to HIV care. The program is designed to be culturally and linguistically appropriate, offering support in English, Spanish, and Haitian-Creole. By addressing both health and social barriers, the intervention aims to enhance the overall well-being of participants.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve health outcomes for minority women living with HIV by enhancing their adherence to treatment.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success with mobile health interventions for behavior change, although this specific approach for multi-lingual minority populations is relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Miami School of Medicine
    Coral Gables, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Duthely, Lunthita M — University of Miami School of Medicine
  • Study coordinator: Duthely, Lunthita M

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.