Finding more partners for HIV prevention using network mapping
Increasing the yield of HIV contact tracing for prevention using network models
We will use maps of sexual connections to find people who could benefit from HIV testing, treatment, or PrEP, focusing on young Black men who have sex with men in North Carolina.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11098719 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project combines contact tracing with network mapping to look beyond a person's immediate partners to partners-of-partners where HIV and other infections may be circulating. Researchers will work with local clinics and health departments to trace contacts, map sexual networks, and identify people at higher risk who may not know they were exposed. The team aims to connect identified individuals to HIV testing, antiretroviral treatment for people with HIV, or pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for those without HIV. The focus is on young Black men who have sex with men in North Carolina, where tightly connected networks can make traditional approaches miss people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are young Black men (roughly ages 13–24) in North Carolina who are part of sexual networks with other men and who may have been exposed to HIV or are not currently on PrEP.
Not a fit: People who live outside the study area, are not connected to the local sexual networks being traced, or already have stable viral suppression and prevention in place may not see direct benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could find more people who need testing or prevention and help reduce new HIV infections in this community.
How similar studies have performed: Previous network-based contact tracing efforts have shown promise for finding undiagnosed infections and improving partner notification, but applying these models specifically to young Black MSM in the U.S. South is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pasquale, Dana Kristine — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Pasquale, Dana Kristine
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.