Barbershop-based approach to reduce HIV stigma and boost testing and PrEP among young Black men
Official title: Cutting Out Stigma: A Barbershop-Based Cluster-Randomized Trial to Improve HIV Testing, PrEP Uptake, and Stigma Reduction
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11470341 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A community program partners with barbershops to reduce HIV stigma and help young Black men get tested for HIV and start PrEP.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $832,865 |
| NIH project number | 1R01MD021855-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11470341 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Young Black men in the Southern United States who visit participating barbershops and are interested in HIV testing or PrEP.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not connected to barbershop-based services or not seeking HIV testing/PrEP may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses barbershops as trusted community spaces to deliver HIV prevention messages, train barbers as health ambassadors, and connect clients to HIV testing and PrEP resources. It combines a culturally tailored multimedia campaign with person-to-person outreach in the barbershop setting. The study design compares outcomes across different barbershop clusters to see if the approach reduces stigma and increases uptake of testing and PrEP among young Black men in the Southern United States.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could increase HIV testing and PrEP use while reducing stigma in communities that are heavily affected.
How similar studies have gone: Previous community-based stigma-reduction efforts in barbershops show promise but results in this exact setup are still being tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ahonkhai, Aimalohi — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Ahonkhai, Aimalohi
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
mChoice: Boosting PrEP Use and Adherence for Black and Latino MSM with Tailored Training and Support
A national study to help Black and Latino men who have sex with men start and stick with PrEP through culturally matched provider training and patient support.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Participatory system dynamics to improve PrEP access in the Bronx
A community-driven project in the Bronx will use system dynamics to identify practical ways to help people at risk for HIV start and stay on PrEP.
-
TB PrEP: Bringing HIV prevention to households affected by TB in Uganda
Aims to help people in households with TB in Uganda access HIV PrEP as part of a combined prevention approach.
-
CARES: A practical program to help adolescent girls and young women use PrEP in Africa
A program called CARES helps young women in South Africa and Zimbabwe use different PrEP options better, with counseling, reminders, and options for support.
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.