Helping people with HIV stay undetectable using low-barrier care in city clinics
Promoting Sustained Viral Suppression Through Implementation of an Adapted Evidence-Informed Low-Barrier Care Model in a System of HIV Primary Care Clinics
['FUNDING_R01'] · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · NIH-11122256
This project offers adapted low-barrier care strategies in Chicago HIV primary care clinics to help people with HIV keep their viral load suppressed.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CHICAGO, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11122256 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would see low-barrier care practices added into your regular HIV clinic visits at 12 Chicago clinics, such as easier appointment access, active outreach when visits are missed, and stronger case management for needs like housing, mental health, and substance use. The project uses a pragmatic trial approach across a network of population-centered health homes funded by the Chicago Department of Public Health, guided by the EPIS implementation framework. Researchers will compare outcomes like sustained viral suppression and retention in care while studying what helps the clinics adopt and keep these changes. The aim is to reach people with complex barriers who have not been well served by standard clinic models.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with HIV who receive care at one of the participating Chicago primary care clinics, especially those with unstable housing, mental health needs, or substance-use challenges, are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who already have stable clinic engagement and durable viral suppression or who do not receive care at the participating clinics are unlikely to get direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, more people with HIV could stay on treatment, achieve sustained viral suppression, and face lower risk of illness and transmission.
How similar studies have performed: Standalone low-barrier care clinics have previously improved viral suppression among hard-to-reach patients, but adapting those strategies into usual primary care sites has been less commonly tested.
Where this research is happening
CHICAGO, UNITED STATES
- NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY — CHICAGO, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: LI, DENNIS HENYEE — NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: LI, DENNIS HENYEE
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.
Conditions: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Virus, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus