Emergency Department Screening for Syphilis
Official title: Implementation of emergency department screening to impact rising syphilis rates in vulnerable populations
Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-11126671 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is developing a new way to check for syphilis in emergency rooms to help people who might not get tested otherwise.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | July 25, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $185,976 |
| NIH project number | 5K23AI166277-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11126671 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients who visit an emergency department, especially those from communities disproportionately affected by syphilis, could potentially benefit from this screening.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not visit an emergency department or who are already regularly screened for syphilis in other healthcare settings may not directly benefit from this specific program.
What this research studies
Syphilis cases are increasing, especially in certain communities, and can cause serious health problems if not treated. Many people with syphilis don't have symptoms or may not visit a regular doctor, leading to missed diagnoses. This project aims to make it easier to find syphilis early by offering screening to everyone who comes to the emergency department. The goal is to catch infections sooner, prevent severe complications, and stop the spread, particularly to pregnant women and their babies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly reduce syphilis infections and related health problems by identifying and treating more people early.
How similar studies have gone: While universal screening in emergency departments for syphilis is a relatively new approach, similar public health screening initiatives have proven effective in detecting other conditions.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stanford, Kimberly — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Stanford, Kimberly
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Syphilis in Pregnancy: Understanding Infection in Moms and Babies
A study following pregnant women with syphilis and their babies to learn how the infection affects pregnancy and newborn health.
-
Syphilis in Pregnancy: Molecular Tests and Immune Responses in Mom and Baby
A study to understand how syphilis affects pregnancy and newborns by using molecular tests and tracking immune responses in 750 pregnant women with syphilis and their babies.
-
Crowdsourced digital messaging to boost syphilis and HIV testing for women in NYC and rural Alabama
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.
-
Preventing syphilis in pregnant people in Rio de Janeiro
A clinical trial in Brazil tests a pregnancy-safe antibiotic plan to stop syphilis from affecting babies.
-
Cefixime vs Penicillin G for Early Syphilis in HIV and non-HIV patients
This project compares a cefixime-based treatment to standard penicillin for early syphilis in people with and without HIV.
-
Preventing congenital syphilis in pregnant people at risk in Rio de Janeiro
A clinical trial will test a treatment approach during pregnancy to reduce syphilis transmission from mother to baby for pregnant people at risk in Rio de Janeiro.
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.