Campus computer models to prevent alcohol-related sexual violence

Collaborator-designed agent-based models to inform alcohol-involved sexual violence prevention on college campuses.

NIH-funded research University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11121907

Using computer models co-designed with students and campus staff to find which policies and programs best reduce alcohol-related sexual violence for college communities.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Pittsburgh, United States)
Project IDNIH-11121907 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If I am a student or campus staff member, this project builds computer simulations that mimic how drinking, social situations, and behaviors interact to produce alcohol-involved sexual violence on different campuses. Students, administrators, and other stakeholders help design the models so they reflect real campus life and hotspots for risky drinking. The models simulate combinations of policies and interventions—such as bystander training, alcohol-policy changes, and targeted prevention—to see which mixes work best in different campus contexts. Results are meant to guide campus leaders toward strategies most likely to lower alcohol-related sexual assaults.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants are college students, campus staff, or administrators at participating campuses who can share experiences, local data, or feedback on prevention efforts.

Not a fit: People not connected to college campuses or unaffected by campus alcohol-related sexual violence are unlikely to see direct benefit from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help colleges choose policies and programs that more effectively reduce alcohol-related sexual assault among students.

How similar studies have performed: Related computer-modeling and stakeholder-driven approaches have informed public-health policy in other areas, but applying agent-based models specifically to alcohol-involved campus sexual violence is relatively new.

Where this research is happening

Pittsburgh, United States

Researchers

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 below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.