Combining long-acting HIV medicines with long-acting birth control
Co-benefits of co-delivery of long-acting antiretrovirals and contraceptives
Finding out if giving long-acting injectable HIV treatment and long-acting contraception together helps adolescent girls and young women with HIV stay on treatment and avoid unintended pregnancy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11420408 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be part of work that looks at how long-acting injectable HIV drugs and long-acting contraceptives work when given together. Researchers will take blood samples to measure drug levels and check for possible interactions, and they will conduct interviews and focus groups to hear about your experiences and preferences. The project mixes lab-based pharmacokinetic tests with qualitative interviews and clinic visits to see how co-delivery could fit into routine care. The team aims to use what they learn to make co-delivery safer, more acceptable, and easier to use in HIV clinics.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adolescent girls and young women living with HIV (about ages 15–24) who are interested in long-acting injectable ART and long-acting contraceptive options, especially at participating clinics.
Not a fit: People who are not living with HIV, males, older women outside the 15–24 age range, or anyone who cannot or does not want injectable long-acting contraception or ART are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, offering both long-acting HIV treatment and contraception at the same visit could improve treatment adherence, reduce stigma around taking pills, and lower unintended pregnancies.
How similar studies have performed: Long-acting injectable ART and long-acting contraceptives have each been shown to work well on their own, but studying their combined use and any drug interactions in young women is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Birmingham, United States
- University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Patel, Rena Chiman — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Patel, Rena Chiman
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 below.