Helping people with HIV in Nairobi who both smoke and drink cut back or quit
Official title: Optimizing Treatment of Co-occurring Smoking and Unhealthy Alcohol use among PWH in Nairobi, Kenya
Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-11194450 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tries counseling plus or minus the medication bupropion to help people with HIV in Nairobi who smoke and misuse alcohol cut back or stop.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $357,949 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA288235-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11194450 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults living with HIV in Nairobi who currently use tobacco and have unhealthy alcohol use are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without HIV, people who only smoke or only drink but do not have co-occurring use, or those who cannot take bupropion would likely not benefit from this specific intervention.
What this research studies
You would be invited to join a randomized trial in Nairobi that tests different combinations of counseling and medication to address both smoking and unhealthy alcohol use. Participants are randomly assigned in a 2x2 design to receive the Positively Smoke Free counseling adapted to include alcohol-reduction content and/or bupropion medication. The counseling focuses on strategies to reduce or quit both tobacco and drinking and builds on the team's ongoing work in Nairobi since 2018. The study follows participants over time to measure smoking, drinking, and related health outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help people with HIV stop smoking or reduce risky drinking and lower long-term risks such as aerodigestive cancers and other illnesses.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows counseling and bupropion can aid smoking cessation among people with HIV, but combining alcohol-focused counseling for tobacco–alcohol co-use is a newer approach with limited prior testing.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Himelhoch, Seth S — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Himelhoch, Seth S
Related research
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This project tests a combination of counseling and medication to help people with HIV in Nairobi who both smoke and drink cut down or quit.
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Improving treatment for people with HIV who smoke and drink alcohol in Kenya
This study is looking for ways to help people living with HIV in Nairobi, Kenya, cut down or quit smoking and drinking alcohol by combining counseling and medication, so they can live healthier lives and lower their risk of serious diseases.
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Biomarkers to detect recent heavy drinking in veterans
A doctor-scientist team is testing blood biomarkers to better identify recent excessive alcohol use in veterans so clinicians can screen, counsel, and care for those at risk.
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.