Gender-affirming counseling to reduce stigma, HIV risk, and substance use in transgender women
Official title: A Gender-Affirming Stigma Intervention to Improve Substance Misuse and HIV Risk among Transgender Women
Funded at Illinois Institute of Technology · NIH-11379984 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new program adapts Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to be led by peers, aiming to reduce internalized stigma and distress and lower substance use and HIV risk for transgender women.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Illinois Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R00DA055508-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11379984 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Transgender women at risk for HIV and substance misuse who can participate in a peer-led, community-based intervention.
✕Less likely to help
Transgender women not experiencing stigma-related barriers or who cannot participate in a peer-delivered program may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project will create a gender-affirming wellness version of ACT that peers can deliver to transgender women. It will use community-based participatory research to tailor the approach to real-world settings and test its effects on stigma, distress, healthcare avoidance, and risk behaviors. An open pilot will inform later rigorous testing to see if the intervention helps people reduce substance use and HIV risk while improving engagement in care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, transgender women could experience less stigma, better mental health, and lower HIV risk through a supportive, peer-delivered program.
How similar studies have gone: Prior peer-delivered ACT approaches have shown promise, but this gender-affirming adaptation for trans women is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Guy, Arryn Aleia — Illinois Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Guy, Arryn Aleia
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.