Better HIV prevention for young Black men who have sex with men who use illicit drugs
Official title: Network-based study design, statistical, and modeling solutions for HIV among populations that use illicit substances: Informing interventions and policy in real-world settings using existing data
Funded at University of Rhode Island · NIH-11362959 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Using existing Chicago data, researchers will create network-based methods to understand how HIV prevention and treatment protect young Black men who have sex with men who use illicit substances and their partners.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rhode Island NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kingston, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $702,925 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA058994-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11362959 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Young Black men who have sex with men in Chicago who use illicit substances or are part of connected sexual or drug-use networks are the most relevant candidates for this work.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not part of these networks—such as women, people who do not use illicit substances, or individuals living outside the Chicago study areas—may not see direct benefits from this work.
What this research studies
I am part of—or similar to—a group of young Black men who have sex with men and sometimes use illicit drugs. Researchers will analyze existing Chicago network data (uConnect, PrEP Chicago, Neighborhood and Networks) and run simulations to see how prevention and treatment reach people through sexual and drug-use networks. They will build statistical models and sample-size formulas to measure 'spillover,' meaning how one person's care can affect others in their network. The aim is to guide programs and policies that protect whole communities, not just single patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to HIV prevention and treatment programs that reduce infections across whole social and drug-use networks, improving protection for people like me.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show PrEP and treatment-as-prevention can reduce transmission beyond treated individuals, but measuring these 'spillover' effects in marginalized, substance-using populations is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Buchanan, Ashley Lynn — University of Rhode Island
- Study coordinator: Buchanan, Ashley Lynn
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.