Helping women in South Africa self-test for HIV and syphilis and connect to PrEP or treatment
Official title: Formative work to develop an intervention to support dual HIV/syphilis self-testing and linkage to PrEP and/or HIV/syphilis treatment for women in South Africa: The THANDO Study
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11388812 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will design ways to help women in South Africa use combined HIV and syphilis self-tests and get linked to treatment or PrEP.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 15, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $68,258 |
| NIH project number | 3R21MH135779-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11388812 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women in South Africa who are sexually active or at risk for HIV or syphilis, including those who have never tested or who are not currently linked to care, would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not women, live outside South Africa, or are already fully engaged in HIV/syphilis care may not directly benefit from participation.
What this research studies
You may be invited to share your experiences in interviews or focus groups about testing, privacy, and getting care so researchers can create helpful materials and pathways. The team will pilot dual HIV/syphilis self-test kits and try different ways to link people to PrEP or treatment after a positive or at-risk result. They will work with local clinics and community members to make sure the approach fits local needs and addresses barriers like stigma, cost, and mistrust. Feedback from women and providers will shape the final package before any larger testing rollout.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help more women test regularly for HIV and syphilis and get linked quickly to PrEP or treatment, reducing infections and improving health.
How similar studies have gone: HIV self-testing has increased testing uptake in many settings, but combining HIV and syphilis self-testing with effective linkage to PrEP or treatment for women is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rael, Christine Tagliaferri — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Rael, Christine Tagliaferri
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Support for South African women to self-test for HIV and syphilis and connect to treatment or PrEP
This project will create ways to help women in South Africa use combined HIV and syphilis self-tests and get linked to HIV treatment, syphilis care, or PrEP.
-
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.
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Harnessing male peer networks to boost HIV testing and PrEP use
A large clinical trial in South Africa tests whether giving HIV self-test kits through male peer networks, with phone support, increases PrEP uptake among men.
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Harnessing men's peer networks to boost HIV self-testing and PrEP use
A large project in South Africa tests whether giving HIV self-test kits through men’s social networks, with phone support, can lead to more men starting PrEP and using HIV testing.
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Participatory system dynamics to improve PrEP access in the Bronx
A community-driven project in the Bronx will use system dynamics to identify practical ways to help people at risk for HIV start and stay on PrEP.
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TB PrEP: Bringing HIV prevention to households affected by TB in Uganda
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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.