Crowdsourced digital messaging to boost syphilis and HIV testing for women in NYC and rural Alabama
Official title: Syphilis Education & Elimination in the US (SEE-US): A citizen science approach to reducing syphilis and HIV/STIs among reproductive-aged women in the US
Funded at Columbia Univ New York Morningside · NIH-11470898 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A community-driven project tests whether crowdsourced digital messages can encourage women, especially women of color and Native American women, to get syphilis, HIV, and STI tests.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia Univ New York Morningside NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 10, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $847,675 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI203615-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11470898 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are reproductive-aged women in New York City and rural Alabama who are comfortable with digital engagement and may face stigma or barriers to testing.
✕Less likely to help
Some individuals may not engage with digital messaging or access testing services due to personal preferences or limited internet access.
What this research studies
This project uses crowdsourced digital messages created with input from the communities in New York City and rural Alabama to promote testing for syphilis, HIV, and other sexually transmitted infections. It will tailor messages to local cultures to overcome stigma and mistrust and will explore remote self-collection testing as an option. The approach aims to be scalable and cost-effective in resource-limited settings while addressing barriers relevant to women of color and Native American women. The study will involve developing and deploying messaging, measuring uptake of testing, and assessing changes in testing behavior over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could increase testing rates and reduce stigma, potentially catching infections earlier and improving health outcomes for women in diverse US communities.
How similar studies have gone: Prior crowdsource-based public health campaigns have shown promise in increasing engagement and behavior change in some contexts, but results vary by setting and disease.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia Univ New York Morningside
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Davis, Alissa — Columbia Univ New York Morningside
- Study coordinator: Davis, Alissa
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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.