Combined mobile PrEP support and virtual therapy for HIV‑negative men who have sex with men using meth

CHAMPION - Combining HIV And Stimulant Prevention and Treatment Interventions Optimized for HIV-Negative MSM

NIH-funded research University of California, San Diego · NIH-11364815

A combined mobile app and virtual cognitive behavioral therapy program to help HIV‑negative men who have sex with men who use meth stay on PrEP.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California, San Diego NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (La Jolla, United States)
Project IDNIH-11364815 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If you join, you would be an HIV‑negative man who has sex with men, is 21 or older, and uses methamphetamine. The program pairs a PrEP support app (PREPAPP) with virtual cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT4CBT) and compares this package to a usual-care waitlist. One hundred participants will be randomized and followed for six months with monthly behavioral checks and objective measures of PrEP adherence. The goal is to see whether the combined mobile and therapy approach is doable, acceptable, and helps people keep taking PrEP.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: HIV‑negative men who have sex with men, aged 21 or older, who use methamphetamine and are eligible for or interested in starting or continuing PrEP are the ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People who are HIV‑positive, younger than 21, do not use stimulants, are not eligible for PrEP, or cannot use a smartphone or attend virtual sessions may not benefit from this program.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help people on PrEP be more consistent with their medication and reduce HIV risk linked to meth use.

How similar studies have performed: Mobile health apps and virtual CBT have shown promise separately for improving PrEP use and reducing stimulant-related harms, but combining these specific tools for meth‑using MSM is a newer approach.

Where this research is happening

La Jolla, 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.
Conditions Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome VirusAcquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus
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.