Fast, practical nudges to boost HIV retesting in at-risk adults
Official title: Transformative approaches to rapidly and efficiently test demand creation interventions to promote HIV retesting in adults at increased risk of HIV
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11590752 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large, real-world study will test small, low-cost nudges to help adults at risk for HIV retest more often so they can get timely diagnosis and start treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $115,771 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH132438-04S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11590752 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+ years) in sub-Saharan Africa and similar high-risk settings who have not recently retested for HIV.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not at increased risk or not engaged in HIV testing may not experience direct benefits.
What this research studies
This project uses behavioral design to adapt nudges that encourage people at elevated HIV risk to retake HIV tests in real-world settings. It will pilot multiple nudges, tailor them to local contexts through collaboration with end users, and then run a large field trial with randomization to see which nudges work best. The aim is to identify low-cost, scalable strategies that increase retesting and support timely antiretroviral therapy and PrEP efforts. The work builds on prior findings about barriers such as stigma, attention gaps, and inaccurate beliefs, translating them into practical prompts and reminders. If successful, these nudges could be implemented in communities with high HIV burden to reduce transmission and improve health outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Potentially faster diagnosis and treatment for HIV and better uptake of preventive strategies for people at risk.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that behavioral nudges can influence health behaviors, and this mega-trial approach seeks to identify the most effective nudges for HIV retesting.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chamie, Gabriel — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Chamie, Gabriel
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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.