Helping people on PrEP reduce alcohol harms and protect gut health
Official title: Alcohol Misuse, Gut Microbial Dysbiosis and PrEP Care Continuum: Application and Efficacy of SBIRT Intervention
Funded at University of Louisville · NIH-11143913 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project offers a brief alcohol help program (SBIRT) to people taking PrEP to reduce heavy drinking, protect gut bacteria, and help them keep using their HIV prevention medication.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Louisville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Louisville, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $659,430 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA030485-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11143913 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are HIV-negative adults who are currently taking or planning to take PrEP and who drink alcohol, especially those reporting hazardous or heavy use.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not drink alcohol, who are HIV-positive, or who are not using PrEP would not be eligible and are unlikely to benefit from this work.
What this research studies
If you're HIV-negative and on or thinking about PrEP, researchers will ask about your alcohol use and PrEP experiences and do interviews to learn how drinking affects your choices. Some participants will get SBIRT, a short counseling and referral approach to reduce hazardous alcohol use, and everyone will be followed over time. The study will collect stool samples and clinical data to see how alcohol and PrEP affect the gut microbiome and side effects. The team will monitor PrEP adherence and health outcomes to see whether lowering alcohol use helps people stay on PrEP.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help people on PrEP drink less, reduce gastrointestinal and gut-related side effects, and remain on their prevention medication longer.
How similar studies have gone: Brief SBIRT programs have reduced hazardous drinking in other settings, but using SBIRT specifically to protect the gut microbiome and improve PrEP adherence is a newer approach with limited prior data.
Where this research is happening
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University of Louisville
Louisville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Barve, Shirish S — University of Louisville
- Study coordinator: Barve, Shirish S
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Alcohol, Gut Health, and PrEP: How a brief intervention might help HIV prevention care
A program to help people using PrEP reduce risky drinking and improve gut health so they can stay on PrEP.
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How alcohol use affects HIV prevention medication adherence and gut health.
This study is looking at how drinking alcohol might affect how well PrEP works for preventing HIV and how it can cause side effects that make it harder for people to stick to their medication, and it’s for individuals at risk for HIV who want to understand the best ways to manage their alcohol use while taking PrEP.
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GODDESS: Online support for young Black women to reduce alcohol use and boost PrEP in NC
A virtual group program helps young African American women at risk for HIV reduce alcohol use, address sexual risk, and increase PrEP use in North Carolina.
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Virtual peer-support app to help young Black women reduce alcohol-related sexual risk and increase PrEP use in North Carolina
This project uses a mobile app with virtual group sessions to help young Black women in North Carolina cut back on alcohol-related risky sex and increase use of HIV prevention (PrEP).
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Using a virtual group app to support young African American women in reducing alcohol misuse and improving HIV prevention.
This study is inviting young African American women in North Carolina to join a friendly online group where they can talk about drinking habits and staying safe from HIV, while also getting support and tips from peers to help them make healthier choices.
-
mChoice: Boosting PrEP Use and Adherence for Black and Latino MSM with Tailored Training and Support
A national study to help Black and Latino men who have sex with men start and stick with PrEP through culturally matched provider training and patient support.
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.